Docking station connectivity monitor/controller

ABSTRACT

A connectivity monitor/controller. A wireless connection is established between a mobile device and a docking station that also communicates with external device(s) each configured to selectably communicate with the mobile device via a connectivity through the docking station or through a direct connection with the mobile device. The docking station receives a connectivity assignment specifying external device(s) and a respective connectivity between the mobile device and the specified external device. Each specified connectivity is established based on the connectivity assignment. A display indicating a connectivity configuration including an indication of each specified external device and an indication of each external device&#39;s respective connectivity is generated, where the indication of the respective connectivity indicates either a connectivity through the docking station or a direct connectivity, or both.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to communications among devicesconnected to a docking station, and more particularly to establishing,monitoring, modifying and controlling communications between and amongdevices connected to a docking station.

BACKGROUND

Mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets are becoming moreversatile and powerful mobile devices. Mobile devices in some instancesare able to be used as a person's primary computing platform. Externaldevices, such as printers, data servers, other data sources, otherperipherals, or combinations of these, are external devices of acomputing system that are able to enhance the usefulness of mobiledevices. A mobile device is able to take advantage of an external deviceby establishing one or more connectivity between the mobile device andthe external device. The transient nature of mobile devices, however,introduces challenges in properly establishing, configuring, maintainingand otherwise controlling connectivity between the mobile device andmultiple external devices. The desirability of utilizing externaldevices with a mobile device increases as the mobile device is used morefully as a primary computing platform.

The usability of mobile devices that are used as a primary mobiledevice, or that are otherwise used more frequently by a user, increasesthrough the ability to easily and continuously provide electrical powerto the mobile device. Wireless charging stations, which are sometimes inthe form of a plate or mat onto which a mobile device is placed, areable to easily, conveniently, and continuously provide electrical powerto a mobile device by merely placing the mobile device on the plate ormat.

The usability of mobile devices is enhanced by providing convenientfacilities to establish, configure, maintain, monitor, and otherwisecontrol communications and power connectivity between a mobile deviceand external devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, and which together with the detailed description below areincorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to furtherillustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles andadvantages all in accordance with the present disclosure, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a docking station interconnection diagram, accordingto an example;

FIG. 2 illustrates a docking-charging station block diagram, accordingto an example;

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile device block diagram, according to anexample;

FIG. 4 illustrates a docking-charging station processing flow, accordingto an example;

FIG. 5 illustrates a docking station connectivity processing flow,according to an example;

FIG. 6 illustrates a connectivity display processing flow, according toone example;

FIG. 7 illustrates an external device connectivity display, according toan example;

FIG. 8 illustrates a communications control and monitoring process,according to an example;

FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile device docking process, according to anexample;

FIG. 10 illustrates mobile device memory content, according to anexample;

FIG. 11 illustrates a docking-charging station memory contents,according to an example;

FIG. 12 illustrates a docking-charging station device configurationdefinition processing flow, according to one example;

FIG. 13 illustrates a mobile device configuration definition processingflow, according to one example;

FIG. 14 is a docking-charging station credential processing flow,according to an example;

FIG. 15 is a mobile device credential processing flow, according to anexample;

FIG. 16 illustrates is a docking-charging station network connectivityprocessing flow, according to an example;

FIG. 17 illustrates is a mobile device network connectivity processingflow, according to an example;

FIG. 18 illustrates a docking-charging station authentication processingmemory contents, according to an example;

FIG. 19 is a docking connectivity establishment processing flow,according to an example;

FIG. 20 is a mobile device docking connectivity establishment processingflow, according to an example; and

FIG. 21 illustrates a docking station wireless connection managementprocess, according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it isto be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples andthat the systems and methods described below can be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms andphrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, toprovide an understandable description of the concepts.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more thanone. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more thantwo. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a secondor more. The terms “including” and “having,” as used herein, are definedas comprising (i.e., open language). According to context, the term“coupled,” as used herein, is generally defined as “connected,” althoughnot necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. In the caseof inductive coupling, there may be no physical connection betweencomponents, as inductive coupling between two coils can occur undercircumstances in which a current in one induces a current in the othereven if the coils are separated. In various examples, electrical energyis able to be coupled through at least three mechanisms, inductivecoupling, capacitive coupling, or magnetic resonance Components that are“communicatively coupled” are configured to communicate (that is, theyare capable of communicating) in any fashion for any duration, such asby way of electric signals, optical signals, wireless signals, or anycombination thereof. The terms “connection” and “connectivity” arelikewise are intended to be construed broadly to include any mediasupporting, or capable of supporting, communication between two devices,including electric signals, optical signals, wireless signals, or anycombination thereof.

Communicatively coupled components are able to be directly connected toone another, connected through any combination of intermediate physicalcomponents or other elements that support communications between thecommunicatively coupled components, connected at least in part by one ormore electromagnetic, optical or similar communications medium, by oneor more other coupling components, or by combinations of these. Theterms “configured to” and “adapted to” describe hardware, software or acombination of hardware and software that is (according to context)capable of, set up, arranged, built, composed, constructed, designed,able to accommodate or make, suitable to carry out or that has anycombination of these characteristics to carry out a given function. Inthe following discussion, “handheld” is used to describe items, such as“handheld devices,” that are sized, designed and otherwise configured tobe carried and operated while being held in a human hand.

The below described systems and methods include devices and componentsthat communicate with one another. In the following discussion,communications between devices or components is able to include one-waycommunications, two-way communications, or both. An example of one-waycommunications is a transmitting device or component sends or transmitsdata to a receiving device that receives the data. Examples of two-waycommunications include two devices with each device being configured toboth transmit and receive data, and each of the two devices operate toboth send data to the other device and to also receive data from theother device. The transmission from the two devices operating in two-waycommunications is able to occur simultaneously, which is referred to asfull duplex communications, at different times, which is referred to ashalf duplex communications, or both. In one example, devices are able tooperate in both one-way communications and two-way communications atdifferent times. Further, devices are able to communicate data with morethan one other device, such as in a broadcast mode, in either a one-waymode (e.g., by only performing one of transmit or receive operations),or in a two-way mode (e.g. by performing both transmit and receiveoperations).

The below described systems and methods provide efficient monitoring andcontrol of interactions between a mobile device, such as a mobiledevice, a docking station and external devices connected to the dockingstation. In some examples, the docking station includes wireless powertransfer capabilities that are able to wirelessly deliver power to themobile device to, for example, operate circuits or other elements of themobile device, recharge power packs within the mobile device, providepower for other uses, or combinations of these.

The mobile device and the docking station in one example communicatedata via a docking station wireless connection. In the followingdiscussion, the term “docking station wireless connection” refers towireless data communication connectivity that supports datacommunication between the mobile device and the docking station. Themobile device is then able to configure connectivity to access externaldevices, such as user interface devices, printers, speakers, or anyother external device, that has data connectivity with the dockingstation. The mobile devices in some examples are further able toestablish direct wireless data connectivity with the external devicesthat have data connectivity with the docking station, thereby providingthe option of either direct data communications with the externaldevices or data communications through the docking station. In thefollowing discussion, connectivity refers to data communication betweendevices, such as between the mobile device 104 and various externaldevices as are described below. Some examples support configurationdefinitions for configuring and selecting which connectivity to use tocommunicate between the mobile device and the external devices. In someexamples, a user display is presented to indicate which connectivity isconfigured for such communications. Inputs, from a user or other source,are further able to be provided to cause reconfiguration of theconnectivity. In some examples, configuration definitions are able to becreated and modified that define connectivity and other interactionsbetween the mobile device and the docking station.

Configuring connectivity and displaying the present connectivity to auser has various advantages. For example, under circumstances in which amobile device is connected to a docking station through a dockingstation wireless connection, data communications to devices throughconnectivity that go through the docking station will be lost as aresult of the termination of the docking station wireless connection.Such termination may be, for example, due to the mobile device movingaway from the docking station, or due to the docking station wirelessconnection being unreliable. A user may wish to use direct wirelessconnectivity for some external devices, such as displays and keyboards,while routing data through the docking station for some externaldevices, such as more distant printers or other external devices.

Other interactions between the mobile device and the docking station arealso able to be specified and controlled in some examples. For example,processing is able to be off-loaded from the mobile device to thedocking station or other processing external device, or on-loaded from aprocessor onto the mobile device. Such distribution of processingallows, for example, control of the power consumed by the mobile devicein order to accommodate more rapid battery charging or to utilize theprocessor in the mobile device under circumstances in which its batteryis charged.

FIG. 1 illustrates a docking station interconnection diagram 100,according to an example. The docking station interconnection diagram 100illustrates an example of a docking-charging station 102 that is able towirelessly transfer power to a mobile device 104 and to communicate datain one or both directions between the docking station 102 and the mobiledevice 104. The mobile device 104 converts the transferred power intoelectrical power for use by the mobile device 104, such as for operationof components within the mobile device, to charge an electrical energystorage device, such as a battery or other power pack, within the mobiledevice, or both. The mobile device 104 is able to be, for example, ahandset, tablet, any other type of device, combinations, or variationsof these.

The exterior of the docking-charging station 102 is able to have anysuitable shape or configuration. For example, a portion of the enclosurefor the docking-charging station 102 is able to have a surface with atabular or circular configuration onto which the mobile device 104 isable to be placed to facilitate power transfer, data transfer, or both,between the docking-charging station 102 and the mobile device 104. Inone example, a wireless power transmitter 106 is included within thedocking-charging station 102 and operates to wirelessly transmit powerto the mobile device 104 through a wireless power transfer signal 130.The docking station interconnection diagram 100 is a schematic diagramthat is drawn to primarily depict the interconnections betweencomponents, particularly wireless interconnections that convey power,data, or both, in one or both directions. Although the mobile device 104is shown at a distance from the docking-charging station 102, in someexamples the mobile device 104 is placed directly on a surface of thedocking-charging station 102. The docking-charging station 102 in thisexample includes a power cord 140 with a plug 142 that is able to beconnected to suitable power source, such as a conventional wall socketpower outlet 144.

A common use of wireless power transfer between the docking-chargingstation 102 and the mobile device 104 is to transfer power to the mobiledevice 104 through the wireless power transfer signal 130 in order tocharge a power pack, such as a battery, of the mobile device 104. Thewireless power transfer performed between the docking-charging station102 and the mobile device 104 is able to be referred to as “wirelesscharging.” Although the wireless power transfer from a docking-chargingstation 102 to a mobile device 104 is referred to as wireless charging,it is to be understood that the power transferred by so called “wirelesscharging” techniques is also able to be used for other purposes by themobile device 104 receiving the power, such as to operate circuits, userinterfaces, motors, other components, or combinations of these. Wirelesscharging of mobile devices is described U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/253,478, which was filed on Oct. 5, 2011 and entitled “WIRELESSCHARGING AND COMMUNICATION WITH POWER SOURCE DEVICES AND POWER CHARGEDEVICES IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”. U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/253,478 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Many techniques are able to be used to wireless transfer energy between,for example, the docking-charging station 102 and the mobile device 104.Examples include inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, or magneticresonance Several standards are able to be used to allow theinteroperability of devices in performing wireless energy transfer.Example entities defining wireless energy transfer standards include theWireless Power Consortium, the Power Matters Alliance, the NFC Forum,the Alliance for Wireless Power, the China Communications StandardsAssociation, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Thesystems and methods described herein are able to comply with, orincorporate elements of, one or more elements of one or more of thesestandards.

The docking station interconnection diagram 100 further depicts a numberof external devices that are able to communicate data with the mobiledevice 104 either directly, through the docking-charging station 102, orboth. In this description, the term external device refers broadly toany device with which data is able to be communicated by, for example,either one or both of sending data to the external device or receivingdata from the external device. Further, the docking-charging station 102itself is able to communicate data with these external devices. Thedocking-charging station 102 in this example operates as a dockingstation or base station for the mobile device 104 such that the mobiledevice 104 is able to establish a docking station wireless connection132 with the docking-charging station 102 in order communicate data withthe external devices connected to the docking-charging station 102. Inthe following discussion, the described “establishing” of aconnectivity, such as establishing the docking station wirelessconnection 132 or other connectivity, is intended to include actionssuch as activating, enabling, securing, or initiating the connectivity,and to also include also actions that include furnishing, supplying,making available, or maintaining the connectivity once the connectivityis activated, enabled, secured, or initiated. In various examples, thedocking station wireless connection 132 is able to include a shortrange, high speed wireless connectivity such as a Near-FieldCommunications (NFC) data communications, WiFi®, a wireless connectivityconforming to any specification, or combinations of these. As describedbelow, the docking station wireless connection 132 is able to beestablished based upon one or more different criteria, such as adetection of receipt of a wireless power transfer signal 130, adetection of a related data communications signal emanating from thedocking-charging station 102, other criteria, or combinations ofcriteria.

The docking station interconnection diagram 100 depicts external devicesthat include a monitor 110, speakers 116, a keyboard 112, a mouse 114, aremote server 120 or other computer, and a printer/scanner 122. Theseexternal devices are able to communicate data with the mobile device104, the docking-charging station 102, or both, through one or both ofwired data paths and wireless data paths. In the illustrated example,the docking-charging station is connected to the monitor 110 through awired display connectivity 160 and a wireless display connectivity 170,to speakers 116 through a wired speaker connectivity 166 and a wirelessspeaker connectivity 176, to a keyboard 112 through a wired keyboardconnectivity 162 and a wireless keyboard connectivity 172, to a mouse114 through a wired mouse connectivity 164 and a wireless mouseconnectivity 174, to a remote server 120 through a wired serverconnectivity 150, and to a printer/scanner 122 through a wired printerscanner connectivity 168 and a wireless printer/scanner connectivity178. The depicted wired connectivity between the docking-chargingstation 102 and the various external devices are able to be eitherindividual connectivity, such as over Universal Serial Bus (USB)connections, a shared data network, such as an Ethernet based network,that connects two or more external devices to the docking-chargingstation 102, or combinations of these. The docking-charging station 102in one example operates as a “docking station” whereby a mobile device104 is able to establish a docking station wireless connection 132 withthe docking-charging station 102 and access the external devicesattached to the docking-charging station 102 through one or moreconnectivity.

For example, a mobile device 104 is able to establish the dockingstation wireless connection 132 with the docking-charging station 102and thereby access or otherwise utilize the printer/scanner 122, thespeakers 116, monitor 110, keyboard 112 and mouse 114, other externaldevices, or any combination of external devices that are connected tothe docking-charging station 102. For example, the mobile device 104 isable to send data representing documents to the printer/scanner 122through the docking-charging station 102 in order to print thosedocuments. The mobile device 104 is further able to communicate data,processing tasks, other information, or combinations of these with theremote server 120, as is described in further detail below. In thefollowing discussion, a communications channel that includes the dockingstation wireless connection 132 that is used to communicate data betweenthat external device and the mobile device 104 is referred to as adocking station connection route.

In addition to the mobile device 104 accessing one or more of theseexternal devices through the docking-charging station 102 via dockingstation connection routes that include the docking station wirelessconnection 132, the mobile device 104 is also, or alternatively, able toestablish direct wireless connectivity with one or more of thoseexternal devices and access those external devices directly. Inaccessing those external devices directly, the mobile device 104 doesnot use the docking station wireless connection 132. In the exampleillustrated docking station interconnection diagram 100, the mobiledevice 104 is able to establish a direct monitor wireless connectivity134, a direct printer/scanner wireless connectivity 136, a directspeakers wireless connectivity 138, a direct keyboard wirelessconnectivity 152, and a direct mouse wireless connectivity 154. Themobile device 104 in this example is able to access these externaldevices either through the docking-charging station 102 using dockingstation connection routes, through direct wireless connectivity, orthrough both. In further examples, a mobile device 104 is able to accessother devices or fewer devices through direct wireless connectivity. Inone example, the mobile device is able to access external devices thatare not connected to the docking-charging station 102 by establishingdirect wireless connectivity with those external devices.

In the following discussion, a data communications channel between aparticular external device and either the mobile device 104 or thedocking-charging station 102 is referred to as connectivity between thatparticular external device and the mobile device 104 or thedocking-charging station 102. As described in further detail below, themobile device 104 in one example allows a selection of whichconnectivity the mobile device 104 is to use for communications witheach external device for which more than one communications channel,e.g., a direct wireless connectivity and a docking station connectionroute that includes the docking station wireless connection 132, isavailable. For example, the mobile device is able to have a directwireless connectivity with the keyboard 112 and mouse 114, andconnectivity via the docking station wireless connection 132 through thedocking-charging station 102 for communications with the monitor 110 andprinter/scanner 122. The particular selected connectivity between themobile device 104 and the various external devices are able to beselected in one example by a graphical user interface presented on themobile device 104, by a configuration definition specified for themobile device 104. In general, a configuration definition is specifiedby a configuration definition data set that is stored on either themobile device 104 or on a storage device accessible to thedocking-charging station 102, or both. Further, the mobile device isable to provide a display that indicates which connectivity, e.g., adirect connectivity or connectivity through the docking-chargingstation, is used to communicate between the mobile device 104 and eachexternal device.

In the following discussion, the term “connectivity assignment” refersto the set of selected connectivity that are defined to supportcommunications between the mobile device 104 and the various externaldevices that are connected to the docking-charging station 102. In oneparticular example, a connectivity assignment is able to define selecteddata connectivity for the mobile device 104 such that the mobile device104 has direct wireless connectivity with the keyboard 112 and mouse114, and docking station connection routes that include the dockingstation wireless connection 132 for communications with the monitor 110and printer/scanner 122. Connectivity assignments are further able toinclude wired connectivity between the mobile device 104 and otherexternal devices. In one example, the connectivity assignment merelydefines whether the mobile device 104 has a direct connectivity(wireless or otherwise) to a particular external device, or if theconnectivity to the particular external device is through the dockingstation wireless connection 132, and thus through the docking-chargingstation 102. In one example, the nature of the connectivity betweenvarious external devices and the docking-charging station 102, e.g.,whether the connectivity is wired, wireless, both, or otherwise, is notdefined by the connectivity assignment.

As described below, the docking-charging station 102 is able to includeprocessing resources, such as a local microprocessor, access to remotecomputers that are able to perform processing, any other type ofcomputer processing resource, or combinations of these. Adocking-charging station 102 with processing resources is able to beconfigured to receive processing tasks from the processor within themobile device 104, provide processing tasks to be performed by aprocessor within the mobile device 104, or combinations of these.Providing tasks to the processor of the docking-charging station 102,which is referred to as “offloading,” or providing processing tasks tothe processor of the mobile device, referred to herein as “onloading,”provides flexibility in allocating processing load and commensuratepower consumption between the docking-charging station 102 and themobile device 104. For example, onloading permits the processing powerof the mobile device 104 to be utilized. Conversely, offloading allowsthe docking-charging station 102 to receive offloaded functions from themobile device 104 to reduce its power consumption and allow more of thewirelessly transferred power received by the mobile device 104 to beused to charge power packs in the mobile device 104 in order to increasethe rate of charging of that power pack.

FIG. 2 illustrates a docking-charging station block diagram 200,according to an example. The docking-charging station block diagram 200depicts the components of a docking-charging station 250, which is anexample of a docking-charging station 102 as is described above withregards to FIG. 1. The description of the docking-charging station blockdiagram 200 describes interactions between components associated with orwithin the docking-charging station 102 and other devices that aredescribed above in reference to FIG. 1.

The docking-charging station block diagram 200 depicts a communicationsbus 230 that supports the communication of data, other information,electrical power, and other elements, between or among the variouscomponents depicted in the docking-charging station block diagram 200.The communications bus 230 is able to consist of a single datacommunications architecture or bus, or the communications bus 230 isable to include multiple data, power, or data and power communicationsor conveyance structures that are within or attached to thedocking-charging station 250.

The docking-charging station block diagram 200 depicts a processor 202that performs various processing to support operations of thedocking-charging station 250. The processor 202 communicates programcode 212 and data 214 with memory 210 over the communications bus 230.The processor 202 executes the received program code 212 and uses thereceived data 214 as appropriate to perform the processes describedherein.

The docking-charging station block diagram 200 includes a detector 204that operates to detect a presence or absence of a nearby mobile device,such as the above described mobile device 104. The detector 204 is anexample of a proximity detector that, in one example, generates aproximity detection signal to alert the processor 202 to indicate thedetected presence of the mobile device and, in some examples, anindication of an estimate of the distance between the docking-chargingstation 250 and the mobile device 104. The detector 204 in some examplesinclude an optical sensor, an electrical sensor, a magnetic sensor, apressure sensor, other sensor adapted to detect positioning of themobile device, or combinations of these sensors. The detector 204 in oneexample detects the presence of a mobile device under circumstances inwhich the mobile device is within 5 cm of the docking-charging station.

The processor 202 in one example receives wireless power transferinformation to use in providing wireless power to the mobile device. Inone example, the wireless power transfer information is stored in data214 within memory 210 and the processor operates to retrieve thewireless power transfer information in response to receiving theproximity detection signal from the detector 204. Alternatively, or inaddition, the mobile device is able to send wireless power transferinformation to the docking-charging station 250. The wireless powertransfer information in one example indicates parameters for the amountof power to be transferred to the mobile device. The wireless powertransfer information may include parameters such as a maximum power thatis to be transferred to the mobile device, a maximum power transferrate, other power transfer information, or combinations of these.

The docking-charging station block diagram 200 includes a chargingcomponent 206 that operates to transfer power from the docking-chargingstation 250 to a mobile device. The processor in one example activatesthe charging component 206 to transfer wireless power to the mobiledevice in accordance with the parameters specified in the wireless powertransfer information received by the processor 202. In one example, thecharging component 206 includes an inductive coil, a capacitive plate,magnetic resonator, or combinations of these, to transfer wireless powerelectro-magnetically to the mobile device.

The docking-charging station block diagram 200 also includesconnectivity units 208. The connectivity units 208 enable the processor202 to communicate with a mobile device that is near thedocking-charging station 250. The connectivity units 208 can include oneor more optical communications devices, one or more inductive coils, oneor more capacitive plates, one or more magnetic resonators, orcombination of these, to transmit wireless communication signals to amobile device 104 that is near the docking-charging station 250. In oneexample, Near Field Communications (NFC) technology can be used tosupport communication between the docking-charging station 250 andmobile device. Information conveyed between the docking-charging stationand the mobile device through the connectivity units 208 include, forexample, information such as an amount of power to transfer to themobile device, specifications of any connectivity the docking-chargingstation is to provide between the mobile device 104 and other externaldevices connected to the docking-charging station 250, such as one ormore of the monitor 110 and other external devices described above withregards to FIG. 1. The connectivity units 208 are further able to conveyinformation, program code, other data, or combinations of these that areassociated with the onloading of processing to or the offloading ofprocessing from the mobile device with respect to processing resourcesavailable to the docking-charging station 250.

The docking-charging station 250 also includes a user interface that inthis example includes a display unit 216 and an input device 218. Theprocessor 202 receives input from the input device 218 and generates adisplay on the display unit 216. For example, the processor 202 cangenerate a display of connectivity status of wired or wirelessconnectivity of the docking-charging station 250 or mobile device toother external devices. Moreover, the input device 218 and display unit216 are able to provide a user interface to allow a user to modifyconnectivity between external devices, such as monitor 110 or otherexternal devices discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 and thedocking-charging station 102 or mobile device 104.

The docking-charging station 250 is able to include one or moreconnectivity units, such as the illustrated two radio units Radio A 220and Radio B 222. In further examples, a docking charging station 250 isable to include any suitable number or connectivity units, such asradios that communicate via any suitable ratio protocol. In one example,each radio unit, such as either or both of Radio A 220 and Radio B 222,include one or more antennas and a radio transceiver that includesfacilities to perform processing to implement any data communicationsprotocol stack that are used to support any communications connectivityfor data, voice, video, other types of connectivity, or any combinationof these. In one example, the connectivity units such as Radio A 220 andRadio B 222 are able to support one or more of data communications overBluetooth compliant radio paths, data communications complying with oneor more sets of data communication protocols defined under the IEEE802.11 standard, communications conforming to the WiGig standard, datacommunications over Near Field Communications (NFC), communications overa wireless voice or data cellular network such as networks conforming tothe Global System for Mobile (GSM) standard, the General Packet RadioService (GPRS) standard, over cellular data networks implementing theEDGE standard, cellular data networks communicating via Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) modulation techniques, data or voicecommunications conforming to the Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Long Term Evolution—Advanced(LTE-A) standards, any other data or voice communications standard, orany combination of these. In one example, a docking-charging station 250establishes and maintains the above described docking station wirelessconnection 132 through one or more connectivity units, such as Radio A220 and Radio B 222.

The docking-charging station 250 is further able to include physicalelectrical data communications connectors, such as the two illustratedConnector A 224 and Connector B 226. In further examples, adocking-charging station is able to include any number of physicalelectrical connectors that convey one or more of data, electrical power,voice, analog signals, any other type of signal, or combinations ofthese. Further, one or more physical connectors are able to convey data,voice, any static or time varying quantity, or combinations of these,over conductive electrical paths, optical communications path, othercommunications paths, or combinations of these. The physical electricaldata communications connectors are able to operate with the connectivityunits 208 to perform various communications functions with externaldevices, a mobile device, or both.

Examples of communications standards supported by various examples ofphysical connectors, such as Connector A 224 and Connector B 226 includeconnectors conforming to standards defined for Ethernet network datacommunications connectors, Universal Serial Bus (USB) datacommunications connectors, a Tip Sleeve Ring (TSR) connectors, TOSLINKoptical connectors, VGA connectors, RCA, S-VIDEO, DVI, HDMI,DisplayPort, IEEE 1394, eSATA, RJ11 connectors, other audio, video,display or phone connector, or combinations of these. In one example,the connectors, such as connector A 224 and Connector B 226, implementwired connectivity between the docking-charging station 102 and theexternal devices connected to the docking-charging station 102, such asthose described above with regards to FIG. 1 that include the monitor110, speakers 116, the keyboard 112, the mouse 114, the remote server120 or other computer, and the printer/scanner 122.

The processor 202 in one example performs processing to establish andmaintain connectivity between a mobile device 104 and external devicesconnected to the docking-charging station 250 through the connectors,such as Connector A 224 and Connector B 226. In one example, processor202 establishes and maintains the above described docking stationwireless connection 132 through a connectivity unit such as Radio A 220or Radio B 222, and operates to support data communicate between themobile device 104 via the docking station wireless connection 132 anddevices connected to the connectors, such as Connector A 224 andConnector B 226. Performing processing to establish and maintain dataconnectivity between a mobile device 104 and devices connected toconnectors of the docking-charging station 250 is an example ofperforming wireless docking functions for the mobile device 104 suchthat there is no wired connectivity between the mobile device 104 andthe docking-charging station 102.

Furthermore, the processor 202 of the docking-charging station 250 isable to receive or generate a processing assignment from the mobiledevice 104 or other processing external device, as is described indetail below. In one example, the mobile device 104 is able to offloadprocessing functions to the docking-charging station 102 so thatelectrical consumption by a processor of the mobile device 104 isreduced and the mobile device is able to charge its power pack, such asa battery, more rapidly. Processing tasks offloaded to thedocking-charging station 250 are able to be performed by the processor202 of the docking-charging station 250, another processor accessible tothe docking station 102 such as is present in the server 120, anotherprocessor, or combinations of these processors. In another example, theprocessor 202, an external device connected to docking-charging station102, or both, is able to send a request to the mobile device 104 for themobile device 104 to perform a particular processing task. In oneexample, the request to the mobile device 104 is able to specify thatthe particular processing task is to be performed under circumstances inwhich the mobile device 104 is receiving wirelessly transferred powerfor charging or to operate the circuits of the mobile device 104.Further examples of assigning processing tasks from either the mobiledevice 104 to the docking-charging station 102, or vice versa, are alsoable to be performed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile device block diagram 300, according to anexample. The mobile device block diagram 300 depicts components of anexample of a mobile device 104, such as is described above with regardsto FIG. 1. The description of the mobile device station block diagram300 describes interactions between components associated with or withinthe mobile device 104 and other external devices that are describedabove in reference to FIG. 1. It is to be further understood thatvarious components described below with regards to the mobile device 350are also able to be incorporated in further examples of adocking-charging station 250 as is described above with regards to FIG.2.

The mobile device block diagram 300 depicts a communications bus 330that supports the communication of data, other information, electricalpower, and other elements, between or among the various componentsdepicted in the mobile device block diagram 300. The communications bus330 is able to consist of a single data communications architecture orbus, or the communications bus 330 is able to include multiple data,power, or data and power communications or conveyance structures thatare within or attached to the docking-charging station 250.

The mobile device block diagram 300 depicts a processor 302 thatperforms various processing to support operations of the mobile device350. The processor 302 communicates program code 312 and data 314 withmemory 310 over the communications bus 330. The processor 302 executesthe received program code 312 and uses the received data 314 asappropriate to perform the processes described herein. Program code 312in one example is able to be stored in flash memory that is part ofmemory 310 in one example. Further examples are able to use a batterybacked-up RAM or other non-volatile storage data elements to storeprogram code 312, other executable programs, or both. The program code,device application software, or parts thereof, are also able to betemporarily loaded into volatile data storage such as RAM. Data receivedvia wireless communication signals or through wired communications arealso able to be stored one or more areas of memory 310.

The processor 302 interacts with one or more of the components depictedin the mobile device block diagram 300. For example, the processor 302is able to interact with the depicted components by controlling,communicating data with, otherwise interacting with, or by combinationof these. The processor 302, in addition to performing operating systemfunctions, is able to execute software applications. A set ofapplications that control basic device operations, including at leastdata and voice communication applications, is able to be installed onthe mobile device 350 during manufacture. Examples of applications thatare able to be loaded onto the device may be a personal informationmanager (PIM) application having the ability to organize and manage dataitems relating to the device user, such as, but not limited to, e-mail,calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. Theprocessor 302 is further able to perform part or all of the processingdescribed in this specification.

The mobile device 350 is able to include one or more power storage orsupply components, such as a battery 340 to provide power to thecircuits of the mobile device 350. The one or more power storage orsupply elements, such as a battery 340, are connected to a powersubsystem 342 that provides power to the circuits of the mobile device350. The power subsystem 342 includes power distribution circuitry forproviding power to the various circuits and also contains in one examplebattery charging circuitry to manage recharging the battery 340 (orcircuitry to replenish power to another power storage element). Thepower subsystem 342 in one example receives electrical power from thewireless power reception component 306. The power subsystem 342 in oneexample is also able to be connected to an external power supply (notshown) through an external power connector, such as through the belowdescribed Connector A 324, Connector B 326, other connectors (not shown)or any combination of these.

Depending on conditions or statuses of components within the mobiledevice 350, one or more particular functions associated with varioussubsystem circuits are able to be disabled, or an entire subsystemcircuit may be disabled. For example, if the battery temperature is low,then voice functions may be disabled, but data communications, such ase-mail, may still be enabled over the communication subsystem.

A wireless power reception component 306 wirelessly receives power froman external source, such as the above described charging-docking station102, and in some examples further contains battery charging circuitry tomanage recharging the battery 340 (or circuitry to replenish power toanother power storage element). In further examples, the wireless powerreception component 306 operates with the power subsystem 342 to controlrecharging the batter 340 or other energy storage devices.

The mobile device 350 includes a detector 304 to detect the senseproximity of the mobile device 350 to a docking-charging station 102.The detector 304 is an example of a proximity detector that generates aproximity detection signal to alert the processor 302 to indicate thedetected presence of the docking-charging station and, in some examples,an indication of an estimate of the distance between thedocking-charging station 102 and the mobile device 350. In response toeither detecting presence of a charging-docking station 102 or receivingwireless power via wireless power reception component 306, processor 302of the mobile device 350 uses connectivity units 308, described below,to communicate with the docking-charging station 102. This communicationmay include transfer of information indicating the amount of power toprovide to the mobile device 350 for operations such as charging itsbattery 340, powering components of the mobile device 350, other uses,or combinations of these.

The mobile device 350 includes connectivity units 308. Connectivityunits 308 include wireless connectivity units, such as Radio A 320 andRadio B 322. Connectivity units 308 further include physical connectors,such as connector A 324 and connector B 326. Connector A 224 andconnector B 226 in various examples support wired data communications,voice communications, video communications other types ofcommunications, or combinations of these. Physical connectors in variousexamples conform to wired communications standards such as connectorsdefined by the USB standard, TSR connectors, HDMI connectors, otheraudio, video, display or phone connectors, or combinations of these.

The connectivity units 308 in this example support data communications,voice communications, video communications, other communications, orcombinations of these over various standards, such as Bluetooth, WiFi asdefined by various subsection of the IEEE 802.11 standard, WiGig, NFC,cellular networks such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, andthe like, other types of wireless communications, or combinations ofthese.

In one example, the mobile device 350 is a wireless two-waycommunication device with voice and data communication capabilities.Such electronic devices communicate with a wireless voice or datanetwork 380 using a suitable wireless communications protocol. Wirelessvoice communications are performed using either an analog or digitalwireless communication channel. Data communications allow the mobiledevice to communicate with other computer systems via the Internet.Examples of electronic devices that are able to incorporate the systemsand methods described herein include, for example, a data messagingdevice, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone with data messagingcapabilities, a wireless Internet appliance or a data communicationdevice that may or may not include telephony capabilities.

The illustrated mobile device 350 is an example electronic device thatincludes two-way wireless communications functions. Radio A 320 in oneexample is a cellular radio connectivity component that operates toperform wireless communications operations to implement communicationsof voice, data, or both, over one or more cellular networks. Theconnectivity units 308 in one example include a digital signal processor(DSP) element that performs processing to extract data from receivedwireless signals and to generate signals to be transmitted. Theparticular design of the connectivity units 308 is dependent upon thecommunication network and associated wireless communications protocolswith which the device is intended to operate.

The connectivity units 308 in one example further includes short-rangeconnectivity components. In one example, Radio B 322 is a short rangewireless data communications device that provides data connectivitybetween the mobile device 350 and different systems or devices, whichare not necessarily similar devices. For example, Radio B 322 is able tosupport Bluetooth® communications to provide for connectivity withsimilarly-enabled systems and devices, including the data file transfercommunications, other short range communications devices, orcombinations of these. In further examples, the connectivity units 308are able to include an infrared device and associated circuits (notshown) to perform infrared connectivity with external devices or thedocking-charging station 102.

Communications between the docking-charging station 102 and the mobiledevice 350 is able to include data describing one or more connectivityassignments. As described above, a connectivity assignment defines theconnectivity between the mobile device 350 and some or all of theexternal devices connected to the docking-charging station 102. In oneexample, the connectivity assignment defines connectivity to one or moreexternal devices connected to the docking-charging station 102 as beingone of either a direct wireless connectivity or connectivity through thedocking-charging station 102.

Furthermore, communications between the docking-charging station 102 andthe mobile device 350 are able to specify processing tasks that are tobe offloaded from or onloaded to the mobile device 350. For example, themobile device 350 is able to offload processing tasks by communicatingprocessing functions to the docking-charging station 102 that are to beexecuted by a processor of the docking-charging station 102 or anotherprocessor to which the docking-charging station has access, such as theserver 120. Offloading of processing tasks enables, for example,reducing the electrical consumption of the mobile device 350 to allowfaster battery charging, reduction in heat generation, other effects, orcombinations of these. Conversely, the mobile device 350 can onloadprocessing from the docking-charging station 102 or from anotherexternal device through the docking-charging station 102. In this case,the processing power of the mobile device 350 can be used undercircumstances in which additional processing capacity is desired.Results of the processing in one example are communicated back to therequesting external device.

The mobile device 350 includes a display unit 316 and input device 318to provide a user interface. In some examples, processor 302 performsprocessing to present a depiction on the display unit 316 of the presentconnectivity assignment that define the connectivity between the mobiledevice 350 and the external devices connected to the docking-chargingstation 102. The input device 318 can be used in conjunction with suchas display to modify these connectivity assignments so as to redefinethe connectivity between the mobile device 350 and the external devicesconnected to the docking-charging station 102.

Connectivity through the connectivity units 308, such as through Radio A322 or Connector A 324, enables a user to set preferences through anexternal device connected to the mobile device and also enablesinformation or software communication through direct connectivitybetween the mobile device 350 and external data sources rather than viaa wireless data communication network. In addition to datacommunication, the physical connectors are further able to provide powerto the power subsystem 342 to charge the battery 340 or to supply powerto the electronic circuits of the mobile device 350.

In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text messageor web page download is processed by the connectivity units 308, andcommunicated data is provided to the processor 302, which is able tofurther process the received data for output to the display unit 316, oralternatively, to a connector such as Connector A 324 or Connector B326. A user of the mobile device 350 may also compose data items, suchas e-mail messages, using the input device 318, which is able to includea complete alphanumeric keyboard or a telephone-type keypad, inconjunction with the display unit 316 and possibly a connector. Suchcomposed items are then able to be transmitted over a communicationnetwork through the connectivity units 308.

For voice communications, overall operation of the mobile device 350 issubstantially similar, except that received signals are generallyprovided to a speaker (not shown) and signals for transmission aregenerally produced by a microphone (not shown). Alternative voice oraudio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, mayalso be implemented.

A media reader 382 is able to be connected to a connector, such as oneof connector A 324 or connector B 326, to allow, for example, loadingcomputer readable program code of a computer program product into themobile device 350 for storage into memory 310. In a further example, themedia reader 382 is able to be incorporated into the mobile device 350.One example of a media reader 382 is an optical drive such as a CD/DVDdrive, which may be used to store data to and read data from a computerreadable medium or storage product such as computer readable storagemedia 384. Examples of suitable computer readable storage media 384include optical storage media such as a CD or DVD, magnetic media, orany other suitable data storage device. Computer readable program code,such as application programs, configuration information, other data, orcombinations of these, is alternatively able to be provided to themobile device 350 through the data network 380.

FIG. 4 illustrates a docking-charging station processing flow 400,according to an example. The docking-charging station processing flow400 is an example of processing performed by the processor 202 of thedocking-charging station 250 described above, which is an example of thedocking-charging station 102. The docking-charging station processingflow 400 begins by detecting, at 402, a presence of a mobile device,such as the mobile device 104 described above, in proximity to thedocking station. Detecting the mobile device 104 is able to be performedby any suitable technique, such as detecting an establishment of awireless data connectivity, such as a Bluetooth connectivity, betweenthe docking-charging station 102 and the mobile device 104. Thedocking-charging station 102 is also able, in another example, to detectthe presences of a mobile device 104 by detecting a wireless transfer ofpower from the charging component 208 of the docking-charging station250 to the mobile device 104.

The docking-charging station processing flow 400 continues in oneexample by receiving, at 404, wireless power transfer information. Inone example, the mobile device 104 is able to send wireless powertransfer information to the docking-charging station via a wirelessconnectivity, such as via Bluetooth connectivity. The wireless powertransfer information in one example includes wireless power transferspecifications upon which wireless power transfer is able to be based.The wireless power transfer information in another example is stored asdata 214 in the memory 210 of the docking-charging station 250 prior todetecting the mobile device 104. In one example, the stored datacontaining the wireless power transfer information is a profile for amobile device or user, as is described in further detail below. In suchan example, receipt of the wireless power transfer information includesretrieving data 214 that contains that information. Wireless powertransfer information in one example is also contained in a configurationdefinition data set that is able to be received by a docking station,such as the docking-charging station 102. In further examples, thewireless power transfer information is able to be received through othertechniques or through combinations of some of these or other techniques.In one example, the wireless power transfer information in any format,such as in the form of a profile for a device or user, is able to bereceived from the server 120 described above or from another data sourcethat is remote from the docking-charging station 102. The wireless powertransfer information in one example specifies a rate at which wirelesspower is to be transferred to the mobile device 104 and is also able toconvey other information related to providing power to the mobile device104 to be used for charging a power pack of the mobile device, operatingcomponents of the mobile device, to be used for other things, orcombinations of these. The wireless power transfer information invarious examples is able to be either static, or dynamic. For example,dynamic wireless power transfer information is able to be changed by,e.g., providing new wireless power transfer information at any time suchthat the wireless power transfer information specifies changing powertransfer values based upon the wireless power receiving requirements ofthe mobile device 104 then in effect.

The docking-charging station processing flow 400 continues bytransferring, at 406, wireless power from the docking station to themobile device 104. The transfer of wireless power in one example isbased on, or in response to, detecting the presence of the mobile devicein proximity to the docking station. The transfer of wireless power inone example is able to be based on the received wireless power transferinformation. In one example, the wireless power transfer information isable to be included in a profile for a device or user. In furtherexamples, a docking-charging station is able to transfer power to themobile device without receiving wireless power transfer informationbased on, for example, default power transfer parameters or generalizedparameters for different types of mobile devices. In one example,wireless power transfer is established based upon establishing thedocking station wireless connection.

A wireless connection between the mobile device and the docking stationto support wireless communication is established, at 407. The abovedescribed docking station wireless connection 132 is an example of awireless connection that is established between the mobile device andthe docking station. As discussed above, the described “establishing” ofa connectivity, such as establishing the docking station wirelessconnection 132 or other connectivity, is intended to include actionssuch as activating, enabling, securing, or initiating the connectivity,and to also include also actions that include furnishing, supplying,making available, or maintaining the connectivity once the connectivityis activated, enabled, secured, or initiated. In one example, thewireless connection between the mobile device and the docking station tosupport wireless communication is established simultaneously with thetransferring of wireless power from the docking station to the mobiledevice.

The docking-charging station processing flow 400 receives, at 408,connectivity assignment information. Connectivity assignment informationis able to be received from one or more of many sources. For example,connectivity assignment information is able to be stored as data 214 inthe memory 210 of the docking-charging station 250. Alternatively, oradditionally, in one example connectivity assignment information is ableto be stored on and received wirelessly from the mobile device 104 oranother external device, such as server 120 described above. In anexample, the connectivity information is contained within profile datafor a device or user, as is described below. The connectivityinformation may be static or dynamic. In the case of dynamicinformation, connectivity assignments are able to be changed by newconnectivity information being received at any time that defines newconnectivity configurations that are to be established. In an example ofstatic connectivity assignment information, the connectivity informationmay be set by a user with the user interface of the docking-chargingstation 102, the mobile device 104, another external device, orcombinations of these. Examples of dynamic connectivity informationinclude dynamic connectivity generation by the docking-charging station102, the mobile device 104, another external device, or combinations ofthese, based upon, for example, the charging urgency of the mobiledevice 104, the quality of connectivity under current noise conditions,availability of the connectivity, target data transfer speed, otherconsideration, or combinations of these.

Connectivity is established, at 410, according to the receivedconnectivity assignment information. In one example, the establishedconnectivity is at least one of wired connectivity and wirelessconnectivity through the docking station between the mobile device andone or more external devices based on the connectivity assignment. Inthe illustrated example, at least some of the established connectivityconsists of data communication paths that include the docking stationwireless connection 132. The presently configured connectivity between amobile device and, for example, the docking-charging station and one ormore external devices, is referred to herein as the connectivityconfiguration. Connectivity configurations are able to include one ormore wired and wireless connectivity between devices that are able toinclude the wireless docking station connection, direct connectivity,other connectivity, or combinations thereof.

Processing assignment information in one example is received, at 412.Processing assignment information in one example is stored as data 214in the memory 210 of the docking-charging station 250 prior to detectingthe presence of the mobile device 104. In another example, processingassignment information is received from the mobile device 104 or fromanother external device. In some examples, processing assignmentinformation is received from combinations of two or more sources.

The processing specified in the processing assignment information isable to include one or both of onload processing that defines tasks tobe performed by a processor of the mobile device, and offload processingthat defines tasks to be performed by processors associated with thedocking-charging station 250. These processing assignments may be staticor dynamic. In an example of dynamic processing assignments, a processorof the mobile device 104 is able to send a series of processingassignment information for offload processing based on a state of chargeof the power pack of the mobile device. In such an example, the offloadprocessing is able to vary based on the state of charge of the powerpack. For example, a mobile device with a battery having a low state ofcharge may specify more offload processing tasks so that less receivedpower is used to power the processor of the mobile device 104 and morepower is able to be used to recharge the battery of the mobile device104. As the battery reaches a higher level of charge, the offloadprocessing tasks may be reduced by, for example, the mobile device 104sending new processing assignments to the docking-charging station 102.In another example of dynamic processing assignments, thedocking-charging station 102, or processors in communications with thedocking charging station 102, are able to define processing a sequenceof processing assignments that specify different amounts of onloadprocessing tasks in order to accommodate periods of high processingdemands by utilizing the processor within the mobile device 104. Thetasks defined by the processing assignment information are thenexecuted, at 414.

The docking-charging station processing flow 400 in some examplestransmits or communicates data, at 414, with the mobile device 104.Communicating data is able to include one or both of transferring datafrom the docking-charging station 102 to the mobile device 104, andtransferring data from the mobile device 104 to the docking-chargingstation 102. In the case of transferring data from the docking-chargingstation 102 to mobile device 104, the transferred information is able tobe obtained from one or more of data that is stored locally by thedocking-charging station 102 or the data is able to be received fromanother external device, such as from the server 120 described abovewith regards to FIG. 1. This communication of information is able to bepart of a process of synchronizing or “syncing” information on themobile device 104 with that stored on another device, such as server120. Synchronizing information between the mobile device 104 and otherexternal devices allows a user to access a consistent set of informationwhether the user is using the mobile device 104 or the remote from whichthe data originated. Synchronizing data between a mobile device 104 andanother computer is also able to provide a back-up of information, suchas emails, messages, and the like, in case of loss or destruction of themobile device 104 or the originating computer.

The docking-charging station processing flow 400 continues by executing,at 416, the processing defined by the processing assignments that werereceived, such as described above with regards to receive processingassignment 412. Processing tasks that were offloaded to thedocking-charging station 102 are executed at this point in one example.Executing the offloaded processing is able to be based on processingassignment information stored in the docking-charging station 102, basedon information received from the mobile device 104, based on informationreceived from another external device such as a server, or combinationsof these. The processing assignments may be static or dynamic. In thelatter case, processing assignments are able to be made by the mobiledevice 104 are able to change over time based on the urgency forcharging its battery, or in cases in which the charging-docking station102 or another external device such as the remote server 120, is usingthe processing power of the mobile device 104 while it is being chargedby charging-docking station 102.

In one example, additional connectivity assignments are transmitted, at417, from the docking station to the mobile device. The additionalconnectivity assignments specify, for example, additional wirelessconnectivity between the mobile device and the one or more externaldevices.

In one example, the docking charging station detects, at 418, an absenceof the mobile device 104. The absence of the mobile device 104 is ableto be caused by, for example, a user removing the mobile device 104 fromthe vicinity of the docking-charging station 102 and carrying the deviceaway. The absence of the mobile device 104 is able to be detected by,for example, one or more of detecting a loss of wireless or wired datacommunications between the docking-charging station 102 and the mobiledevice 104, detecting a large reduction in the wireless transfer ofpower between the docking-charging station 102 and the mobile device104, or other techniques. As is further discussed in detail below, anabsence of the mobile device within a particular range of the dockingstation is also able to be detected. The particular range is able tocorrespond to, for example, a maximum range for effective wireless powertransfer, or an effective operating range of a wireless high speed dataconnection between the mobile device and the docking station.

The wireless transfer of power is stopped or halted, at 420. Stoppingthe transferring of wireless power to the mobile device by the dockingstation in one example is based on detecting the absence of the mobiledevice within a particular range of the docking station, as discussedabove. Connectivity between the docking-charging station 102 and themobile device 104 is stopped or halted, at 422. In one example, haltingconnectivity includes stopping the connectivity that was establishedthrough the docking-charging station 102 that supports communicationsbetween the mobile device 104 and external devices connected to thedocking-charging station 102. In one example, the connectivityassignments established above, at 410, include connecting, through thedocking-charging station 102, the keyboard 112 and mouse 114 to be usedas input devices for the mobile device 104. Halting connectivity in oneexample disconnects the connectivity between the devices. The processingperformed by the docking-charging station 102, or performed byprocessors associated with the docking-charging station 102 such as inserver 120, is also stopped or halted, at 424. This processing is haltedin one example based upon the detection of the absence of the mobiledevice 104, as detected above at 418.

In one example, the docking-charging station processing flow 400continues by locking, at 426, the docking-charging station 102 to theparticular mobile device that was connected to the docking-chargingstation 102. In locking the docking-charging station to a particularmobile device, the docking-charging station 102 becomes unavailable toother mobile devices to establish a docking station wireless connection132. In one example, the docking-charging station is locked to themobile device under circumstances in which the docking station wirelessconnection 132 is established. In further examples, the docking-chargingstation is locked to the mobile device under circumstances in which thedocking station wireless connection is disconnected. In some examples,the docking-charging station is not locked to the mobile device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a docking station connectivity processing flow 500,according to an example. In one example, the docking stationconnectivity processing flow 500 is performed by the processor 202 ofthe docking-charging station 250 described above, which is an example ofthe docking-charging station 102, and provides connectivity between themobile device 104 and external devices attached to the docking-chargingstation 102 under circumstances in which the mobile device 104 is dockedto the docking-charging station 102. A mobile device 104 in one exampleis considered to be docked to a docking-charging station 102 undercircumstances in which the mobile device is detected to be in thevicinity of the docking-charging station 102. As described below, someexamples provide an ability to detect the presence of a mobile device104 in the vicinity of a docking-charging station 102 by detecting, forexample, the transfer of power from the docking-charging station 102 toa mobile device 104, the establishment of a wireless or wired dataconnectivity between the docking-charging station 102 and the mobiledevice, other techniques, or combinations of these.

The docking station connectivity processing flow 500 begins in oneexample by receiving, at 502, identification information for a specificmobile device 104 that is detected to be in proximity to thedocking-charging station 102. The identification information in oneexample is any form of data that serves to identify the particularmobile device 104 that is in proximity to the docking-charging station102. In some examples, various configuration information data is storedin association with the identification information for each mobiledevice. Upon receiving the identification information, adocking-charging station 102 is able to retrieve the configurationinformation and configure various components, connectivity, elements, orcombinations of these, according and that configuration information. Theidentification information in one example is received from the mobiledevice 104. The identification information is also able to be providedto the docking-charging station 102 by other sources such as the server120 described above with regards to FIG. 1, from another source, orcombinations of these.

The docking-charging station 102 receives, at 504, connectivityconfiguration information indicating the connectivity that thedocking-charging station 102 is to provide for the mobile device 104that is detected in proximity to the docking-charging station 102. Theconnectivity configuration information is able to be received from themobile device 104 itself, from another external device with access tothe docking-charging station 102 such as server 120, other sources, orcombinations of these.

The received connectivity configuration information is stored, at 506,in one example in association with the identification informationreceived, at 502, for the mobile device. In one example, the receivedidentification information and the received connectivity configurationinformation are stored as data 214 in the memory 210 of thedocking-charging station 250 so that this information is available fordisplay to the user. Moreover, the stored information can be used toestablish connectivity for the mobile device 104 at this time, in thefuture such as under circumstances in which the mobile device 104 isagain docked to the docking-charging station 102, or both.

Connectivity between the mobile device 104 and the external devicesconnected to the docking-charging station 102 is then established, at508, based on the received connectivity configuration information. Inone example, the connectivity consists of direct connectivity betweenthe mobile device 104 and the external devices, connectivity through thedocking-charging station 102 that support communications between themobile device 104 and the external devices connected to thedocking-charging station 102, or both.

In one example, the docking station connectivity processing flow 500operates such that the first time that a particular mobile device 104 isdocked at particular docking-charging station 102, the mobile device 104provides its identification information to the docking-charging station102 along with a connectivity configuration. One or both of theidentification information and connectivity configuration is able to bepreset by a manufacturer of the mobile device 104, downloaded to one orboth of the mobile device 104 and docking-charging station 102, set bythe user using the mobile device 104 or the docking-charging station102, or any combination of these. In one such example, the connectivityconfiguration for that particular mobile device 104 is available for useby the docking-charging station 102 under circumstances in which themobile device 104 is recognized based on its identification information.The operation of this example allows a single docking-charging station102 to rapidly establish wireless charging and connectivity for multiplemobile devices to accommodate, for example, multiple users who may usethe docking-charging station 102 at different times.

FIG. 6 illustrates a connectivity display processing flow 600, accordingto one example. The connectivity display processing flow 600 isperformed by the processor 202 of the docking-charging station 250 inone example. The connectivity display processing flow 600 begins withreceipt, at 602, of a request to display connectivity information. Thisrequest is able to be received, for example, based upon a request from auser via a user interface element of either or both of thedocking-charging station 102 or the mobile device 104. Alternately, therequest may originate from an administrator via another external device,such as a network administration computer or server 120.

The connectivity information is retrieved, at 604. The connectivityinformation is able to be retrieved from the memory 210 of thedocking-charging station 250, received from the mobile device 104,received from another external device, or from combinations of these.The received connectivity information in one example includesdefinitions of the presently active connectivity that are operating tosupport communication between the mobile device and external devices.The connectivity information received in one example further includesdescriptions of available connectivity that may not be presently active,but is able to be activated to provide connectivity between the mobiledevice and a particular external device.

A display indicating the connectivity of external devices to thedocking-charging station 102, to the mobile device 104, or to both, isthen generated, at 606, in response to the received request and receivedconnectivity information. In one example, the generated display is apresentation that indicates a present connectivity configuration of theat least one of wired connectivity and wireless connectivity. In oneexample, the generated display further indicates a connection status ofeach indicated connectivity. A connection status in one example has avalue of either “active,” or “inactive.” A connectivity with an activeconnection status is operating to communicate data between the mobiledevice and an external device. A connectivity with an inactiveconnection status is not presently operating to communicate data, but isable and available to do so if its connection status is changed toactive.

Once a display is generated, a determination is made, at 608, if anindication of a change to a connection status of the one or more wiredor wireless connections is received. An indication to change aparticular connectivity from an active state to an inactive state, orfrom an inactive state to an active state, is an example of anindication of a change of connection status. An indication of a changeof connection status is able to be received through a user interface,from an external device, from another source, or from combinations ofthese.

Based on, or in response to, receipt of an indication of a change to aconnection status, at 608, the one or more wired or wireless connectionsof the docking station or mobile device is modified based on theindication of the change in connection status, at 610. This modificationis able to include, for example, changing a connection status of aparticular connectivity from an active state to an inactive state, orfrom an inactive state to an active state, in accordance with thereceived indication. Following modification at 610, the display of theconnectivity configuration may be updated at 606 to reflect themodification to the connectivity configuration or connection status.

FIG. 7 illustrates an external device connectivity display 700,according to an example. The external device connectivity user display700 depicts and indicates external devices with which the mobile device104 is able to communicate data. The external device connectivitydisplay 700 is able to be presented on any suitable display, such as theabove described display unit 216 of the docking-charging station 250, orthe display unit 316 of the mobile device 350. In an example, theexternal device connectivity display 700 is presented as part of theconnectivity display processing flow 600, described above.Alternatively, the docking-charging station 102 or the mobile device 104is able to generate and present the external device connectivity display700 by interacting with various external devices, such as the monitor110, keyboard 112, mouse 114, or combinations of these. In anotherexample, the external device connectivity display 700 is able to berendered on the display unit 316 of a mobile device 350 based uponinformation received from the docking-charging station 102 through adocking station wireless connection 132.

The external device connectivity display 700 depicts the connectivityconfiguration between the mobile device 104 and various externaldevices. In one example, the presented connectivity configuration refersto data communications between devices, such as between the mobiledevice 104 and various external devices as are described with regards toFIG. 1. The illustrated external device connectivity display 700 depictstwo types of connectivity between the mobile device 104 and the variousexternal devices. One type of connectivity is referred to as dockingstation connection routes. A docking station connection route in thiscontext is data communication connectivity between the mobile device 104and a particular external device that includes a docking stationwireless connection that is established between the mobile device 104and the docking station 102. In one example, a docking stationconnection route is established under circumstances in which the mobiledevice 104 is connected to a docking-charging station 102 through adocking station wireless connection 132, and the docking-chargingstation has another data connectivity with that particular externaldevice. The other type of connectivity is referred to as a directwireless connectivity. A direct wireless connectivity in this contextrefers to a data connectivity that is established from the mobile device104 to the particular external device that does not include connectivitythrough the docking-charging station 102. In some examples, dockingstation connection routes, direct wireless connectivity, or both, areable to include connectivity that are routed through one or more otherdevices, such as network routers or other connectivity nodes, and arenot necessarily limited to a single data communication channel betweenthe mobile device 104 and the external device. For example, a directwireless connectivity to a particular external device is able to consistof a Wi-Fi data connectivity that passes through a Wi-Fi router that isbetween the mobile device 104 and the particular external device.

The external device connectivity display 700 includes a docking-chargingstation table 702 and a mobile device table 704. A docking-chargingstation external device row 710 depicts a list of external devices, suchas are described above with regards to FIG. 1, that are accessible tothe docking-charging station 102 and to which a mobile device is able toestablish a docking station connection route that includes the dockingstation wireless connection that is established between the mobiledevice 104 and the docking station 102. The illustrated example depictsexternal devices including DISPLAY, which corresponds to monitor 110,SPEAKERS, which correspond to speakers 116, Keyboard, which correspondsto keyboard 112, MOUSE, which corresponds to mouse 114, NETWORK SERVER,which corresponds to server 120, and PRINTER-SCANNER, which correspondsto printer/scanner 122. A MEDIA PLAYER is also listed. Examples ofexternal devices listed in the docking-charging station external devicerow 710 are external devices that are connected to support datacommunications with the docking-charging station through wired orwireless data connectivity. In the illustrated example, thedocking-charging station external device row 710 depicts each externaldevice that is identified through a respective docking stationconnection route that includes the docking station wireless connection.

The mobile device external device row 720 in this example depicts asimilar list of external devices as is shown for the docking-chargingstation external device row 710. The mobile device external device row720 depicts external devices that are accessible to the mobile device104 through, for example, a direct wireless connectivity that does notinclude connectivity through the docking-charging station 102. In thedepicted example, the same set of external devices is accessible to thedocking-charging station 102 and the mobile device 104. In furtherexamples, different sets of external devices are accessible to thedifference devices, such as a printer that is hardwired to thedocking-charging station 102 such that it is not directly accessible tothe mobile device. Alternatively, a device may have a wireless interfacethat is compatible with the mobile device 104 and not thedocking-charging station 102, and therefore is only accessible to themobile device through a direct wireless connectivity. In one example,the mobile device external device row 720 includes a depiction ofexternal devices that are identified through respective connectivitythat include a docking station wireless connection between the mobiledevice 104 and the docking station 102 even though those externaldevices have available connectivity through direct wirelessconnectivity.

A docking station connection route type row 712 depicts the type of eachrespective connectivity that is used to connect each external device tothe docking-charging station 102. In the illustrated example, the“DISPLAY” is indicated as connected to the docking-charging stationthrough a WiGig connectivity, the KEYBOARD is indicated as connectedthrough a Bluetooth connectivity, and so forth. A docking-chargingstation connection status row 714 depicts the status of each dockingstation connection route, as either being “ON” or “O.” Adocking-charging station connection route strength row 716 depicts thesignal strength of each docking station connection route whether theconnection is wired or wireless. The signal strength is indicated inthis example on a scale of zero (0) through five (5). Signal strength isillustrated in this example as a numerical value. Further examples areable to graphically represent signal strength such as by bar graphs orother techniques. Additionally, other docking station connection routeinformation is able to be depicted in a similar external deviceconnectivity display 700.

A mobile device direct connectivity type row 722 depicts the type ofeach respective direct connectivity that is used to directly connecteach external device to the mobile device 104. In the illustratedexample, the “SPEAKERS” are indicated as connected to the mobile device104 through Bluetooth connectivity, the “MEDIA PLAYER” is indicated asconnected through WiFi connectivity, and so forth. A mobile devicedirect connectivity status row 724 depicts the status of each directconnectivity as either being “on” or “off.” A mobile device directconnectivity signal strength row 726 depicts the signal strength of eachdirect wireless connectivity that is active, on a scale of zero (0)through five (5). In further examples, other mobile device directconnectivity information is able to be depicted by the deviceconnectivity user interface display 700.

The docking-charging station connectivity status row 714 and the mobiledevice connectivity status row 724 depict which connectivity is active.In this context, an active connectivity for a particular external devicerefers to the connectivity that is currently in use to communicatebetween the mobile device 104 and that particular external device. Aconnectivity that is indicated as “on” in the docking-charging stationconnectivity status row 714 for a particular external device indicatesthat the docking station connection route that includes the dockingstation wireless connection is the active connectivity for that externaldevice. A connectivity that is indicated as “on” in the mobile deviceconnectivity status row 724 for a particular external device indicatesthat the direct wireless connectivity associated with that particularexternal device is the active connectivity for that external device. Ingeneral connectivity, such as a docking station connection route or adirect wireless connectivity, that connects two devices is referred toas being associated with one or both of those devices. In the context ofthe external device connectivity display 700, connectivity is said to beassociated with the external device that the connectivity connects tothe docking-charging station or the mobile device.

The external device connectivity display 700 is also able to supportreconfiguration of connectivity, such as changing data connectivitybetween a mobile device 104 to an external device such as a printer,from docking station connection route that includes a docking stationwireless connection to a direct wireless connectivity that directlyconnects the mobile device 104 to the external device without includinga connection to the docking-charging station 102. In one example, acursor 730 is able to be moved on a Graphical User Interface (GUI)depicting the external device connectivity display 700 in order toreceive user inputs to select displayed elements and to receive userinputs to select a particular connectivity. By moving the cursor 730,such as by moving a mouse 114 or by providing an input on a touchscreenof a display, such as the display unit 216 of the docking-chargingstation 250 or the display unit 316 of the mobile device 350, aparticular box in the docking station connection route strength row 716or the mobile device docking station connection route strength row 726is able to be selected and the status of the particular connectivity canbe changed from “on” to “off.” In another example, selecting a box inthe docking station connection route row 712 or the mobile devicedocking station connection route row 722 causes a list of the differentconnectivity options to be displayed such that a user input is able toselect a connectivity from the list. Alternatively, a box is able to beselected into which text is entered via an input device, such as akeyboard, to identify a specific connectivity. The above described userinputs in one example cause the generation of an indication to changethe connection status of the one or more wired or wireless connections.The processing of one example operates to modify the one or more wiredor wireless connections of the docking station or mobile device based onthe indication of the change in connection status.

In one example, clicking on a box within one of the docking-chargingstation connectivity status row 714 indicates that the docking stationconnection route for the external device of the column of that box is aselected connectivity for that external device. Clicking on that box inone example causes the docking station connection route associated withthat particular external device, i.e., the selected connectivity in thiscase, to be configured as the active connectivity for that externaldevice. The indication in that box is changed to “on” to indicate thatthe docking station connection route is the active connectivity. In thisexample, the corresponding box in the mobile device connectivity statusrow 724 is deactivated and the indication is changed to “off.” Theoperation of this example also allows the inverse, i.e., clicking on abox in the mobile device connectivity status row 724 causes the directwireless connectivity to be the selected connectivity, whereby theindication in that box is set to “on” and the indication in thecorresponding box of the docking-charging station connectivity statusrow 714 changes to “off.”

The reconfiguration of connectivity is also able to operate upon aninput, such as a user input, that indicates switching connectivity froma present connectivity, which is the presently active connectivity, to aselected connectivity that is different than the present connectivity.In an example of switching connectivity includes clicking on a box ofthe mobile device connectivity status row 724 that indicates “off.” Inthis example, clicking on the box causes status of that connectivity tobe changed to “on” and the corresponding indicator for that externaldevice in the mobile device connectivity status row 724 is changed to“off,” thereby disconnecting the present connectivity and connecting theselected connectivity.

FIG. 8 illustrates a communications control and monitoring process 800,according to an example. The communications control and monitoringprocess 800 is able to be performed by, for example, a processor 202 ofthe docking-charging station 250, the processor 302 of the mobile device350, another processor, or the process is able to be distributed betweenor among two or more of such processors. The communications control andmonitoring process 800 begins by establishing, at 802, a docking stationwireless connection between a mobile device, such as the mobile device104, and a docking station, such as the docking-charging station 102.

The communications control and monitoring process 800 continues byidentifying, at 804, at least one external device based uponconnectivity through a respective docking station connection route. Inone example, each respective external device of the at least oneexternal device is communicatively coupled to the docking station andeach respective docking station connection route is associated with arespective external device and includes the docking station wirelessconnection. In one example, the identifying is based upon adetermination that connectivity that includes the docking stationwireless connection 132 exists between the mobile device 104 andexternal devices that are connected to the docking-charging station 102.

The communications control and monitoring process 800 continues bydetermining, at 806, a subset of the at least one external device suchthat each external device within the subset is able to support arespective direct wireless connectivity associated with the respectiveexternal device and each external device in the subset is able tosupport communications between the mobile device and the respectiveexternal device. In one example, the subset is determined by identifyingexternal devices to which the mobile device 104 is able to establish adirect wireless connectivity, such as the direct monitor wirelessconnectivity 134, the direct printer/scanner wireless connectivity 136,the direct speakers wireless connectivity 138, the direct keyboardwireless connectivity 152, and the direct mouse wireless connectivity154 described above with regards to FIG. 1.

The communications control and monitoring process 800 continues bypresenting, at 808, a user interface display depicting: each of the atleast one external device, each respective docking station connectionroute between the mobile device and each external device, and eachrespective direct wireless connectivity between the mobile device andthe each external device. Such a display is described above with regardsto FIG. 7.

The communications control and monitoring process 800 continues bydetermining, at 810, receipt of a first input identifying, based uponthe user interface display, a selected external device from within thesubset and receipt of a second input indicating a selected connectivitycomprising one of a respective direct wireless connectivity associatedwith the selected external device and a respective docking stationconnection route associated with the selected external device betweenthe mobile device and the selected external device. An example ofreceipt of such a first input and a second input is described above withregards to FIG. 7, were a user selects, such as by clicking, a box inthe mobile device connectivity status row 724. Based on a determinationof such receipt, the communications control and monitoring process 800configures, at 812, the selected connectivity between the mobile device,such as the mobile device 104, and the selected external device as anactive connectivity for the selected external device.

The communications control and monitoring process 800 continues bydetermining, at 814, receipt of a profile data set, such as aconfiguration definition data set. In various examples, theconfiguration definition data set is able to be received at either themobile device, the docking-charging station, at another location, or atseveral of these locations. Based upon the determination of receipt of aconfiguration definition data set, the communications control andmonitoring process 800 of one example configures, at 816, for eachrespective external device within the subset, a respective activeconnectivity, the respective active connectivity being one of therespective docking station connection route associated with the eachexternal device, and the respective direct wireless connectivityassociated with the each external device.

The communications control and monitoring process 800 continues byupdating, at 818, the user interface display based upon any connectivitychanges. Connectivity changes are able to occur based upon receivinguser inputs, receiving configuration definition data sets, due to anyother event or reason, or combinations of these. The updated userinterface display is then presented, at 820. The communications controland monitoring process 800 then returns to identifying, at 804, at leastone external device in order to, for example, accommodate changes inconnectivity between the mobile device and one or more external devices.

FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile device docking process 900, according to anexample. The mobile device docking process 900 is performed in oneexample by the processor 302 of the mobile device 350. The mobile devicedocking process 900 begins by detecting, at 902, a presence of adocking-charging station 102 in proximity to the mobile device 104. Inone example, a docking-charging station 102 is detected to be inproximity to the mobile device 104 based on the mobile device 104 beingbrought close to the docking-charging station 102. The mobile device 104receives, at 904, wireless power from the docking-charging station 102.

The presence of the docking-charging station 102 in proximity to themobile device 104 is able to be detected based upon various techniques.For example, one basis for detecting the that the docking-chargingstation is in proximity to the mobile device 104 is to detect that themobile device 104 is wirelessly receiving power as occurs undercircumstances in which the mobile device 104 is placed near, or on, thedocking-charging station 102. The presence of the docking-chargingstation 102 in proximity to the mobile device 104 is also able to bedetected by the establishment of a wireless or wired data connectivitybetween the mobile device 104 and the docking-charging station 102.Other techniques as well as combinations of these and other techniquesare also able to be used to detect the presence of the docking-chargingstation 102 in proximity to the mobile device 104.

The mobile device 104 in this example communicates, at 906, connectivityassignment data with the docking-charging station 102 to enable thedocking-charging station 102 of one example to establish connectivity onbehalf of the mobile device 104. The docking-charging station 102 canuse this connectivity configuration to set up indicated connectivity forthe mobile device 104 while it is docked. communicating connectivityassignment data is able to include receiving connectivity configurationfrom the docking-charging station 102. Connectivity assignment data isable to be received under circumstances in which, for example, thedocking-charging station 102 has stored the connectivity assignment datafor the mobile device 104, under circumstances in which thedocking-charging station 102 has received this data from anotherexternal device, such as server 120 such as in response to providing theidentification of the mobile device to such other external device, underother conditions, or due to the occurrence of several conditions.Communicating connectivity assignment data is also able to includetransmitting connectivity assignment data to the docking-chargingstation 102.

Connectivity is established, at 908, by the mobile device 104 forexternal devices to which the mobile device 104 is to establish directconnectivity, such as a direct wireless connectivity, according to theconnectivity assignment data. The docking-charging station 102 generallyperforms some processing to establish connectivity between the mobiledevice 104 and external devices that are to be connected through thedocking-charging station 102, while processing within the mobile device104 is able to be performed to complete the connectivity betweenprocessing components of the mobile device 104 and external devices thatare connected thereto through the docking-charging station 102.

Processing assignments are then communicated, at 910, between the mobiledevice 104 and the docking-charging station 102. As described above, themobile device 104 is able to transfer processing assignments that onloadprocessing tasks onto the processor 302 of the mobile device 350, thatoffload processing off of the processor 302 of the mobile device 350 bytransmitting those tasks to a processor associated with thedocking-charging station 102, or both. Offloading processing tasks isperformed, for example, to shed processing and thereby batteryconsumption from the mobile device 104 to, for example, enable fasterbattery charging. Onloading processing tasks is performed, for example,in order to utilize the processing power of the mobile device 104 whileit is wirelessly docked.

The mobile device docking process 900 continues by executing, at 912,any processing tasked assigned to the processor 302 of the mobile device350, which may include functions transmitted to it by thedocking-charging station 102, by processors associated with thedocking-charging station 102, other processors, or combinations ofthese. The mobile device docking process 900 in some examplescommunicates information, at 914, with other external devices.Communicating information includes offloading information from themobile device 104 to the docking-charging station 102 for storagelocally on the docking-charging station 102 or for transmission toanother external device, such as server 120, for storage, or both.Communicating information is also able to include onloading informationfrom another source, such as the docking-charging station 102, anotherexternal device, or both. Onloaded information is able to originate fromthe memory of the docking-charging station 102, originate from anothersource accessible by the docking-charging station 102, such as theserver 120, other sources, or combinations of these. communicatinginformation is able to be part of syncing information that operates tocommunicate information updates between the mobile device 104 and thedocking-charging station 102 or other information sources accessiblethereto, such as the server 120, so that the same information is storedon and accessible to a user under circumstances in which using either orboth of the mobile device 104 and the device with which information iscommunicated. Such operations permit the user to access the sameup-to-date information whether the user accesses such information viathe mobile device 104, server 120, another external device, orcombinations of these.

The mobile device docking process 900 continues in one example todetect, at 916, and absence of the docking-charging station 102. Thisgenerally occurs, for example, in a circumstance in which the mobiledevice 104 has been moved out of range of the docking-charging station102, the docking-charging station 102 has been turned off, orcombinations of these. Connectivity with at least the docking-chargingstation 102 stops, at 918, based on the detected absence of thedocking-charging station 102. Processing onloaded to the mobile device104, such as processing received in processing assignments at 910, isalso stopped, at 920, based on the detection of the absence of thedocking-charging station 102.

FIG. 10 illustrates mobile device memory content 1000, according to anexample. The mobile device memory content 1000 illustrates an example ofthe contents of a mobile device memory 310 as described above withregards to FIG. 3. The mobile device memory content 1000 includes code1002 and data 1004 used by the processor of a mobile device 104, such asthe processor 302 discussed above, to perform the processing describedherein. The code 1002 includes a wireless power reception function 1010that enables the mobile device 104 to receive wireless power transferredfrom the docking-charging station 102. The code 1002 also includesconnectivity function(s) 1012 that enables the mobile device 104 toestablish connectivity with other external devices, such as the externaldevices discussed above with regards to FIG. 1. The code 1002 furtherincludes onload/offload function 1014 that enables the mobile device 104to onload or offload processing functions. In addition, theonload/offload function 1014 may handle transfer of the result ofprocessing to or from the mobile device 104 upon completion of executionof the function. In addition, the code 1002 further includes additionalprocessing functions 1016 that are able to be executed by the mobiledevice's processor 302, or they may be offloaded to a processor withinor associated with the docking-charging station 102, or combinations ofthese.

Data 1004 includes wireless power transfer information 1030 that themobile device's processor 302 can transfer to the docking-chargingstation 102 to provide wireless power transfer parameters such as anamount of power to be transferred to the mobile device 104, the maximumpower level or power transfer rate, other information, or combinationsof these. Connectivity information 1032 includes the connectivityassignment data for the mobile device 104, the docking-charging station102, or both. The connectivity information 1032 is also able to includeprotocol stack(s) used to establish connectivity. Processing assignmentinformation 1034 indicates the entity responsible for handling ofprocessing functions, which may include the mobile device 104, thedocking-charging station 102, another external device, or combinationsof these. Processing data 1036 is used by the mobile device's processor302 to perform its functions.

FIG. 11 illustrates a docking-charging station memory contents 1100,according to an example. The docking-charging station memory contents1100 depicts an example of the contents of the memory 210 of thedocking-charging station 250 discussed above with regards to FIG. 2. Thedocking-charging station memory contents 1100 depicts code 1102 and data1104. In an alternative example, another external device, such as server120, is able to contain some or all of this code and data either inaddition to or in place of the memory 210 of the docking-chargingstation 250. For example, an external device is able to store profiledata that is associated with a particular device or user, and theexternal device is able to provide that stored profile data to thedocking-charging station when that particular device, or a deviceassociated with that particular user, establishes a docking stationwireless connection with the docking-charging station.

The code 1102 includes wireless power transfer function 1110 thatenables the docking-charging station 102 to perform wireless powertransfer to the mobile device 104. The connectivity function(s) 1112enable the docking-charging station 102 to conduct processing assignedto it on behalf of the mobile device 104 while the mobile device 104 iswirelessly docked. The processing assignment function 1114 indicateswhich entity is to perform functions communicated between the mobiledevice 104 and the docking-charging station 102. The code 1102 alsoincludes other processing functions 1116 that is able to include, forexample, functions the docking-charging station 102 is to perform onbehalf of the mobile device 104.

The data 1104 includes data sets associated with different mobiledevices or users. Illustrated are two such data sets, a mobile device oruser data set A 1106 and a mobile device or user data set B 1108. Thesedata sets form at least part of a profile, or configuration definitiondata set, that is able to be associated with various entities. Invarious examples, a profile is able to be associated with a particularmobile device, a user, a group of mobile devices or users, a profilethat is a default profile applied to mobile devices or users that do nothave another profile, a profile associated with any other entity orsituation, or profiles that are associated with combinations of these.

In one example, a profile or configuration definition data set is ableto be associated with a particular device or user by any suitablemethod. Such an association is able to be based on based upon anidentification of the mobile device itself, or based upon anidentification of a user of the device. A user of a mobile device isable to be identified by any suitable technique, such as by informationstored on the mobile device or identification entered by the user whenestablishing a docking station wireless connection. In an example, aprofile or configuration definition data set is able to be associatedwith a user's log-in identification or other credentials. In thatexample, the configuration definition data set associated with theuser's credentials is used to configure connectivity for a mobile deviceunder circumstances in which that user uses his or her credentials toconnect to or otherwise access a docking-charging station from thatmobile device. In another example, a profile or configuration definitiondata set is associated with a particular mobile device 104, such as byassociating the configuration definition data set with the devicesserial number, Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), International MobileEquipment Identity (IMEI) number, other identification, or combinationsof these. That configuration definition data set is then used toconfigure connectivity for the mobile device 104 whenever that deviceconnects to a docking-charging station 102.

Each profile or configuration data set in this example includes wirelesspower transfer information 1130, 1140, connectivity information 1132,1142, and processing assignment information 1134, 1144, for thedifferent mobile devices. This information may be unique for eachdifferent mobile device, for each type of mobile device, or for eachuser. The data sets 1106, 1108 are able to be separately encrypted toprotect the data related to each mobile device. Data 1104 also includesprocessing data 1150 to support performing the processing functions incode 1102. In an example, each profile or configuration data setcorresponding to a respective mobile device, and each profile orconfiguration data set includes wireless power transfer information,connectivity assignments, processing assignment information for therespective mobile device, other information, or combinations of these.The data contained in the profile in one example is accessed by theprocessor of the docking-charging station when a mobile deviceestablishes a docking station wireless connection applies that data inconfiguring wireless charging, connectivity, or processing assignmentsunder circumstances in which a particular mobile device is docked to thedocking-charging station 102.

In one example each profile or configuration data set that is stored inthe data 1104 is separately encrypted. In such an example, the processor302 of the docking-charging station 350 is able to separately encrypteach profile in a plurality of profiles. Separately encrypting profiledata allows a particular docking-charging station to be used withmultiple mobile devices and each mobile device or user is able to havesecurely stored profile data that is not accessible to other mobiledevices or users. In one example, encryption keys used to access theseparately encrypted profile data are able to be stored in associationwith the particular mobile device, such as on the mobile device or on adevice accessible to the mobile device. Alternatively, encryption keysare able to be provided by a user such as through a passcode, biometricdevice, other technique, or combinations of these.

When a mobile device that is associated with a stored profileestablishes a docking station wireless connection 132 with adocking-charging station storing profile information associated withthat device or user, the information within the profile defined by theprofile, or user data set, is able to be used, for example, toautomatically define operating parameters for that mobile device, suchas wireless power transfer configurations, processing assignments, wiredor wireless connectivity that is to be provided between the mobiledevice and external devices, or combinations of these.

FIG. 12 illustrates a docking-charging station device configurationdefinition processing flow 1200, according to one example. Thedocking-charging station device configuration definition processing flow1200 is performed in one example by the processor 202 within thedocking-charging station 250, discussed above with regards to FIG. 3.The docking-charging station device configuration definition processingflow 1200 begins by receiving, at 1202, identification information fromthe mobile device 104. In one example, the identification information isreceived over a wireless connectivity. This may be performed in responseto detecting that a mobile device 104 is in proximity to thedocking-charging station 102. The identification information may includedevice identification information, mobile device identificationinformation or user identification information, for example. Theidentification information may include one or more each of an IMEInumber, device Identification, a device type or class identifier, a SIMnumber, a telephone number as defined by, for example, ITU-TRecommendation E.164 or E.123, a MAC address, an IP address, a PIN, aSKU, a UPC, an ICCID, a user ID, a carrier ID, a network ID, otherinformation, or combinations of any number of these.

A mobile device configuration definition is received, at 1204, based onthe identification. In one example, mobile device configurationdefinitions are stored in data items referred to as profiles. A profileis a data item that is able to contain configuration specifications forone or more devices, components, operational aspects, or combinations ofthis. Profiles are able to be associated with various entities, such asindividual users, groups of users, a particular device, a particulartype of device, entities based on other characteristics, or combinationsof these. In an example, a profile is able to specify configuration datafor various components and operational aspects of a mobile device, suchas connectivity that is to be configured for the mobile device when thatmobile device is connected to a particular docking-charging station.

The received mobile device configuration definition in one example isable to be contained in a configuration definition data set, which mayor may not be in the form of a profile associated with the mobiledevice, another entity, or both, that is received based upon retrievinginformation from the memory 210 of the docking-charging station 250. Themobile device configuration definition is able to have been stored inthe memory 210 under circumstances in which the particular mobile device104 had been previously docked to the docking-charging station 102.Alternatively, the docking-charging station 102 is able to retrieve theconfiguration definition for the particular mobile device 104 by usingthe received identification to reference configuration definitioninformation stored on another external device, such as server 120.

A mobile device configuration definition, such as is contained in aprofile, is transmitted to the mobile device 104, at 1206. Wirelesspower is transferred, at 1208, from the docking-charging station 102 tothe wireless device 104 as is specified by parameters in the receivedconfiguration definition. Connectivity information from theconfiguration definition is used to establish connectivity, at 1210, onbehalf of the mobile device. In various examples, connectivity isestablished by processing performed by one or both of the mobile device104 and the docking-charging station 102. Processing assigned to thedocking-charging station 102, as specified by the configurationdefinition, is performed, at 1212.

FIG. 13 illustrates a mobile device configuration definition processingflow 1300, according to one example. The mobile device configurationdefinition processing flow 1300 is an example of a process performed byprocessor 302 of the mobile device 350. Identification information iswirelessly transmitted to the docking-charging station 102, at 1302.Such identification information may include one or more of the itemsnoted above with respect to FIG. 12. In some examples, a mobile deviceconfiguration definition is received, at 1304, from the docking-chargingstation 102. In one example, the mobile device configuration definitionis contained in a configuration definition data set that is contained ina profile that is able to specify various parameters such as wirelesspower transfer information, connectivity information or processingfunctions the mobile device is to perform. The mobile device 104receives, at 1306, wireless transferred power from the docking-chargingstation 102. The mobile device 104 establishes connectivity, at 1308.Connectivity is able to be established in accordance with informationstored in the mobile device 104, information received as part of thereceived configuration definition that may or may not be part of aprofile, based upon other criteria, or combinations of these.

The mobile device 104 executes, at 1310, processing functions assignedto it. For example, one or more functions to be executed by the mobiledevice may be stored in memory 310 of the mobile device 350, functionsto be executed by the mobile device may be received from thedocking-charging station 102 or processors associated with it as definedby the mobile device configuration definition, functions to be executedby the mobile device may be received from the docking-charging station102, or such functions may be obtained from combinations of these.

FIG. 14 is a docking-charging station credential processing flow 1400,according to an example. The docking-charging station credentialprocessing flow 1400 is an example of processing performed by theprocessor 202 of the docking-charging station 250, described above. Oneor more credentials are received, at 1402, from the mobile device 104.These credentials may be transmitted wirelessly by the mobile device 104to the docking-charging station 102. In one example, the credentialsinclude a username or password. Alternatively, or in addition, a mobiledevice 104 equipped with a suitable biometric measurement device is ableto receive credentials that include a biometric image or otherspecification of a finger, face or retinal scan.

In further examples, credentials are able to be contained in aconfiguration definition data set that is able to be associated with auser, device, other entity, or combinations of these. Undercircumstances in which a configuration definition data set is receivedby, for example, other configuration processing, credentials that allowaccess to resources are also able to be received in the configurationdefinition data set and used to access those resources.

The received credentials are authenticated, at 1404. Authentication isable to include, for example, the docking-charging station 102 accessinga local or remote database to determine if the credentials, such as theusername and password, are correct. In one example, a database tosupport validation of credentials is able to be resident on thedocking-charging station 102, the database may reside elsewhere, such ason server 120, on other external devices, or on combinations of these.If the credential is not authenticated, then the docking-chargingstation credential processing flow 1400 stops in one example forsecurity reasons. Conversely, in the case in which the credential isauthenticated, a configuration definition associated with the credentialis accessed and received, at 1406. This configuration definition may bestored locally in the station 102, remotely such as in the server 120,on another storage device, or on combinations of these.

The docking-charging station credential processing flow 1400 of oneexample configures, at 1408, the mobile device 104 and thedocking-charging station 102 based on the accessed configurationdefinition. In one example, the docking-charging station 102 furthertransmits as part of the configuring, at 1408, information from theconfiguration definition to the mobile device 104 to cause the mobiledevice 104 to configure itself accordingly. The docking-charging stationcredential processing flow 1400 configures, at 1410, thedocking-charging station 102 based upon specifications in the receivedconfiguration definition.

The docking-charging station credential processing flow 1400 continuesby causing the docking-charging station 102 to wirelessly transfer, at1412, power to the mobile device 104. In one example, parameters of thewireless transfer of power are defined according to informationcontained in the received configuration definition. Connectivity isestablished, at 1414, between the mobile device 104 and various externaldevices. Processing assigned to the docking-charging station 102according to the received configuration definition is executed, at 1416.

The docking-charging station 102 in one example receives, at 1418, awireless request from the mobile device 104 to access an application.This application is able to be an application that is executing on thedocking-charging station 102, an application executing on server 120,applications running elsewhere, or combinations of these. Thedocking-charging station credential processing flow 1400 provides accessto the requested application in one example through the establishedconnectivity, at 1420, from the mobile device 104 to the processorexecuting the requested application. The docking-charging stationcredential processing flow 1400 receives a request to accessinformation, at 1422. This information may be stored locally in thedocking-charging station 102, it may be stored remotely such as onserver 120, it may be stored elsewhere, or stored on combinations ofthese. In the case of information stored remotely from thedocking-charging station 102, the docking-charging station 102 providesconnectivity, at 1424, to retrieve the requested information from thelocation storing the information in order to provide the mobile device104 with access to this information. In further examples, information isable to be communicated in one direction or in both directions with themobile device based upon the credential information.

In various examples, credentials are used to control access to varioustypes of restricted network resources that are available to the dockingstation, such as the docking-charging station 102. Examples ofrestricted network resources include the above described applicationsand information to which access is controlled by credentials. Furtherrestricted network resources include, for example, printers,sub-networks, any other type of network resource, or combinations ofthese that are in communication with the docking station and thatrequire validation of credentials prior to being granted access to thoseresources. In such examples, credentials are provided by varioustechniques, such as by being included in configuration definition datasets, by being provided by a user input to the mobile device andcommunicated to the docking station, by being entered by a user into thedocking station, by being otherwise configured in a device, by othertechniques, or by combinations of these. In some examples, access to therestricted network resource is provided based upon the credentialinformation.

FIG. 15 is a mobile device credential processing flow 1500, according toan example. The mobile device credential processing flow 1500 is anexample of processing performed by the processor 302 of the mobiledevice 350, described above. A credential is received, at 1502, by themobile device 104. The credential that is received in one example isbased on input by a user of a username and password. Alternatively, orin addition, the credential is able to be a biometric image,specification, or other data relating to, for example, a person'sfingerprint, face or retinal pattern.

The mobile device credential processing flow 1500 transmits, at 1504,the credential to the docking-charging station 102 for authentication.In the case in which the credential is authenticated, the mobile devicecredential processing flow 1500 proceeds to access, at 1506, theconfiguration definition. In one example, connectivity through thedocking-charging station 102 facilitates access to the configurationdefinition. The mobile device credential processing flow 1500configures, at 1508, the mobile device 104 based upon the informationcontained in the configuration definition. This configuration is able toinclude configuration of various components for wireless interactionwith the docking-charging station 102, other external devices, or both.

The mobile device credential processing flow 1500 proceeds to cause thedocking-charging station 102 to be configured, at 1510, for wirelesspower transfer to the mobile device, connectivity between the mobiledevice 104 and other external devices, processing function assignment,or combinations of these. The mobile device credential processing flow1500 wirelessly receives, at 1512, power from the docking-chargingstation 102 according to the configuration defined by the receivedconfiguration definition. The mobile device credential processing flow1500 establishes, at 1514, connectivity for the mobile device 104, andin one example causes the docking-charging station 102 to establishconnectivity according to the configuration defined by the configurationdefinition.

The mobile device credential processing flow 1500 executes, at 1516,processing functions assigned to the mobile device 104 according to thereceived configuration definition. The mobile device credentialprocessing flow 1500 receives, at 1518, a request to access anapplication executing on a remote device, such as the docking-chargingstation 102, server 120, another processor, or combinations of these. Inone example, the request to access an application is able to be receivedin conjunction with receiving an input from a user into the mobiledevice 104, through another external device such as a keyboard or mouseto which the mobile device 104 has established connectivity, anotherinput, or combinations of these. The mobile device credential processingflow 1500 transmits the request to the docking-charging station 102. Inone example, the request is transmitted wirelessly, such as over thedocking station wireless data connection 132. Access is then provided,at 1520, to the requested application. In an example that includes thedocking-charging station 102 hosting the application, thedocking-charging station 102 provides access to the application to themobile device 104. Alternatively, the docking-charging station 102 isable to forward the request to a remote processor, such as server 120,that is executing the application in order to provide access to theapplication by the mobile device 104 via the docking-charging station102.

The mobile device credential processing flow 1500 receives, at 1522, arequest to access information. The mobile device 104 is able to forwardthis request to the docking-charging station 102 in order to handle therequest, or the docking-charging station 102 is able to forward therequest to another external device, such as server 120, that is storingthe information requested. In response to the request for access toinformation, access is provided, at 1524, to the information. In onexample, the docking-charging station 102 retrieves the information fromits own memory, receives it from another external device such as server120 storing the information, or combinations of these, and provides theinformation to the mobile device 104. In one example, the mobile device104 is able to render a presentation to a user based on the receivedinformation.

FIG. 16 illustrates is a docking-charging station network connectivityprocessing flow 1600, according to an example. The docking-chargingstation network connectivity processing flow 1600 is an example of aprocess performed by the processor 202 of the docking-charging station250 described above. The docking-charging station network connectivityprocessing flow 1600 wirelessly transfers, at 1602, power to the mobiledevice 104. The docking-charging station network connectivity processingflow 1600 establishes, at 1604, connectivity on behalf of the mobiledevice 104 in order to enable communications between the mobile device104, the docking-charging station 102, and other external devices thatare connected to the docking-charging station 102, such as are describedabove with regards to FIG. 1.

The docking-charging station network connectivity processing flow 1600registers, at 1606, the mobile device 104. In one example, registeringthe mobile device 104 includes receiving from the mobile device 104identification information used to register the device with a datacommunications network. In one example, the docking-charging station isable to register the mobile device 104 with the network, or thedocking-charging station 102 is able to transmit the identificationinformation to an external device, such as the server 120, that operatesto register the mobile device 104 within a communication network inwhich the docking-charging station 102 or the server 120 is a node.

The docking-charging station network connectivity processing flow 1600receives, at 1608, a request to establish a connection through thenetwork. This request may be received from the mobile device 104 undercircumstances in which the mobile device 104 is commencing thecommunication. The request is also able to be received by thedocking-charging station 102 from another external device in the networkunder circumstances in which that other external device is commencingthe communications. In the case of another external device commencingthe communications, the docking-charging station 102 is able to transmitthe received request to the mobile device 104. The docking-chargingstation network connectivity processing flow 1600 establishes, at 1610,the connectivity by transferring the necessary signals from the mobiledevice 104 to the source or target external device.

FIG. 17 illustrates is a mobile device network connectivity processingflow 1700, according to an example. The mobile device networkconnectivity processing flow 1700 is an example of a process performedby the processor 302 of the mobile device 350 described above. Themobile device network connectivity processing flow 1700 causes themobile device to wirelessly receive, at 1702, power from thedocking-charging station 102. The mobile device network connectivityprocessing flow 1700 establishes, at 1704, connectivity with thedocking-charging station 102 and in one example further establishesconnectivity with one or more other external devices connected to thedocking-charging station 102, such as the external device describedabove with regards to FIG. 1. The mobile device network connectivityprocessing flow 1700 registers, at 1706, the mobile device 104 fornetwork communication. Registering the mobile device 104 for mobileconfiguration is able to include, in one example, forwardingidentification information to the docking-charging station 102. In suchan example, the docking-charging station 102 is able to register themobile device 104 with the communications network, or thedocking-charging station 102 is able to transmit the identificationinformation to an external device, such as server 120, that operates toregister the mobile device 104 on the communications network.Registration on the communications network allows the mobile device 104to communicate with other external devices connected to that network.The mobile device network connectivity processing flow 1700 receives ortransmits, at 1708, a request to connect the mobile device 104 to anexternal device connected to the network, such as another mobile deviceor a computer, for example. The mobile device network connectivityprocessing flow 1700 establishes, at 1710, the connectivity with thetarget or source external device for the connectivity request. In sodoing, the mobile device 104 may transmit or receive one or moreprotocol or standard signals with the target or source external devicevia the docking-charging station 102. Thus, in one example, the mobiledevice 104 is able to transmit or receive a cellular network or VoIPcall with the other external device via the docking-charging station102.

FIG. 18 illustrates a docking-charging station authentication processingmemory contents 1800, according to an example. The docking-chargingstation authentication processing memory contents 1800 illustratescontents of memory of, for example, the memory 210 of thedocking-charging station 250 as described above. The docking-chargingstation authentication processing memory contents 1800 is alternativelyable to represent memory contents of another processor performingauthentication, such as the server 120. The docking-charging stationauthentication processing memory contents 1800 is an example of memorycontents that support the processing described above with regards toFIGS. 12-17. The docking-charging station authentication processingmemory contents 1800 includes code 1802 and data 1804.

Data 1804 stores configuration definitions, or information sets, for anumber of mobile devices or users. In one example, each configurationdefinition is able to be a profile that is associated with a device, auser, a group of devices or users, a profile that is a default profileapplied to devices or users that do not have another profile, a profileassociated with any other entity or situation, or profiles that areassociated with combinations of these. Further, the data 1804 is able toinclude profiles associated with a user, device, another of the abovelisted entities, any other entity, or combinations of these, thatinclude the configuration definitions as well as any other type of data.

The illustrated docking-charging station authentication processingmemory contents 1800 depict an example of two configuration definitions,or information sets, that each corresponds to a different mobile deviceor user. In general, data sets for any number of mobile devices or usersare able to be stored in data 1804. The mobile device or userconfiguration definition information sets 1806, 1808 include informationas described above with regards to FIGS. 16 and 17, includingidentification information 1820, 1830, authentication information 1822,1832, and registration information 1824, 1834. In some examples, eachprofile or configuration definition stored in the data 1804 is able tobe separately encrypted. In an example, processor 302 of thedocking-charging station 350 is able to separately encrypt each profilein a plurality of profiles.

The code 1802 includes an identification function 1810 that performsprocessing to access configuration definition information sets 1806,1008, using identification information 1820, 1830, to identify theconfiguration definition information sets 1806, 1808, for a particularmobile device. The authentication function 1812 is able to be executedby a processor of the mobile device 104, the docking-charging station102, server 120, other processors, or combinations of these, to handleaccess to configuration definition information sets 1806, 1808, in whichauthentication information 1822, 1832, is able to be used toauthenticate the mobile device or its user. The registration function1814 registers the mobile device 104 to a communications network via thedocking-charging station 102 in order to receive or transmit informationwith source or target external devices on the network. The registrationfunction in one example uses registration information 1824, 1834 toregister the mobile device.

FIG. 19 is a docking connectivity establishment processing flow 1900,according to an example. The docking connectivity establishmentprocessing flow 1900 is able to be performed by the processor 202 of thedocking-charging station 250, described above.

The presence of a mobile device 104 within a first range of thedocking-charging station 102 is detected, at 1902. Detecting that themobile device 104 is within the first range of the docking station 102is an example of determining that a mobile device is within a firstrange of a docking station. In one example, a first range is defined asbeing within 5 cm or less of the docking-charging station 102, whichcorresponds to a common range for NFC communications or wireless powertransfer using a system compliant with the Qi standard. In variousexamples, determining that the mobile device is within a first range ofa docking station includes detecting an NFC connectivity from the mobiledevice or receiving an indication that the mobile device is receiving awireless power transfer signal. In a further example determining thatthe mobile device is within a first range of a docking station includesmonitoring characteristics of a signal emitted by the mobile device,such as a signal strength or baseband bit error rate of a Bluetoothsignal emitted by the mobile device.

Based on, or in response to, determining that the mobile device 104 iswithin the first range of the docking-charging station 102, the dockingconnectivity establishment processing flow 1900 causes power to bewirelessly transferred, at 1904, to the mobile device 104. Power iswirelessly transferred in one example by the docking-charging station102 emitting a wireless power transfer signal 130, as is describedabove.

The docking connectivity establishment processing flow 1900 establishes,at 1906, a first connectivity on behalf of the mobile device 12. Thefirst connectivity in one example is established by establishing NearField Communications (NFC). In another example, the first connectivityis established by establishing a Wi-Fi or WiGig data connectivity.

In one example, as the mobile device 104 is further than the firstdistance from the docking-charging station 102, the docking connectivityestablishment processing flow 1900 detects, at 1908, that the presenceof the mobile device 104 within a second range of the docking-chargingstation 102. In one example, the second range is greater than 5 cm andless than 200 meters, which corresponds to an effective wirelesscommunications range for various protocols, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, orWiGig communications systems, but exceeds the effective distance overwhich many wireless power transfer systems are able to efficientlyoperate. In response to detecting the mobile device 104 is within thesecond range from the docking-charging station 102, the dockingconnectivity establishment processing flow 1900 stops, at 1910, wirelesspower transfer to the mobile device 104. Power transfer is stopped inone example to reduce power consumption. Further in response todetermining that the mobile device 104 is within the second range of thedocking-charging station 102, the docking connectivity establishmentprocessing flow 1900 stops, at 1912, the first connectivity. In oneexample, once the mobile device is further than the first distance fromthe docking-charging station 102, the mobile device is outside of theeffective communications range for the first connectivity. The dockingconnectivity establishment processing flow 1900 establishes, at 1914, asecond connectivity between the mobile device 104 and thedocking-charging station 102. In various examples, the secondconnectively is able to be, for example, a Bluetooth connectivity, aWiFi connectivity, other data connectivity, or combinations of these.

Under circumstances in which the distance from the mobile device 104 tothe docking-charging station 102 is farther than the maximum distance ofthe second range, the docking connectivity establishment processing flow1900 detects, at 1916, an absence of the mobile device 104 relative tothe second connectivity. In one example, the absence is detected by thelack of connectivity over the second connectivity, such as undercircumstances in which the distance from the mobile device 104 to thedocking-charging station 102 causes the loss of communications oversecond connectivity, which in some examples is a Bluetooth or WiFi dataconnectivity. In detecting the absence of the mobile device 104 relativeto the second connectivity, the distance from the mobile device 104 tothe docking-charging station 102 is assumed to be farther than theeffective range of the second connectivity. The docking connectivityestablishment processing flow 1900 stops, at 1918, the secondconnectivity by turning off the second connectivity. The secondconnectivity is turned off in one example in order to avoid unnecessaryprocessing and power consumption.

FIG. 20 is a mobile device docking connectivity establishment processingflow 2000, according to an example. The mobile device dockingconnectivity establishment processing flow 2000 is able to be performedby the processor 302 of the mobile device 350, described above.

The mobile device docking connectivity establishment processing flow2000 begins by detecting, at 2002, the presence of a docking-chargingstation 102 within a first range of the mobile device 104. As discussedabove with regards to the docking connectivity establishment processingflow 1900, the first range in one example is defined to be 5 cm or lesswhich corresponds to the effective communications range for NFCcommunications or for wireless power transfer using systems complyingwith the Qi standard. Based on the detection of the presence of thedocking-charging station 102 within the first range of the mobile device104, the mobile device docking connectivity establishment processingflow 2000 transfers, at 2004, wirelessly transmitted power from thedocking-charging station 102. In response to the detection of thepresence of a docking-charging station 102 within a first range of themobile device 104, the mobile device docking connectivity establishmentprocessing flow 2000 in one example further establishes, at 2006,connectivity with the docking-charging station 102 through a firstconnectivity and also establishes connectivity to external devices thatare attached to the docking-charging station 102. As discussed above,the established connectivity is able to be defined by, for example,configuration definitions for the particular mobile device 104, ageneral configuration definition, user selections, other techniques, orcombinations of these.

As the mobile device 104 moves away from the docking-charging station102, the mobile device docking connectivity establishment processingflow 2000 detects, at 2008, the presence of the docking-charging station102 within a second range from the mobile device 104. As discussed abovewith regards to the docking connectivity establishment processing flow1900, the second range in one example is defined to be greater than 5 cmand less than 200 meters. Based on detecting the presence of thedocking-charging station 102 within a second range of the mobile device104, the mobile device docking connectivity establishment processingflow 2000 stops, at 2010, receiving wireless power transfers from thedocking-charging station 102, and further stops, at 2012, the firstconnectivity that was configured through the docking-charging station.In one example, receiving wirelessly transferred power and the firstconnectivity are stopped because the mobile device 104 is out of theeffective range for such transfers or communications. The mobile devicedocking connectivity establishment processing flow 2000 establishes, at2014, a second connectivity by establishing a second connectivity withthe docking-charging station 102 and associated connectivity to externaldevices associated with the docking-charging station 102. In someexamples, the second connectivity is a Bluetooth connectivity, a WiFiconnectivity, or a WiGig connectivity. As the mobile device 104 movesfurther away from the docking-charging station, the mobile devicedocking connectivity establishment processing flow 2000 detects, at2016, an absence of the docking-charging station 102. Based upondetecting the absence of the docking-charging station 102, the mobiledevice docking connectivity establishment processing flow 2000 stops, at2018, the second connectivity.

FIG. 21 illustrates a docking station wireless connection managementprocess 2100, according to an example. The docking station wirelessconnection management process 2100 is performed in one example toestablish and maintain a docking station wireless connection 132 betweenthe mobile device 104 and the docking station 102. The docking stationwireless connection management process 2100 in various examples isperformed by the processor 202 in the docking-charging station 250, theprocessor 302 in the mobile device 350, on or more other processors invarious devices, or the process is able to be divided between or amongtwo or more such processors.

The docking station wireless connection management process 2100 beginsby establishing, at 2102, an initial wireless data connectivity betweenthe mobile device and the docking station. In one example, the initialwireless data connectivity is a Bluetooth data connectivity. The dockingstation wireless connection management process 2100 determines, at 2104,a present distance between the docking station and the mobile device. Inone example, that distance is determined based upon a characteristic ofthe initial wireless data connectivity. For example, a received signalstrength of the initial wireless connectivity is able to be used as anindication of a distance over which the initial wireless connectivitytravels. In further examples, other techniques, such as a round tripdelay for a signal that is transmitted from a first device to a seconddevice, and the second device sends a response after a determined timedelay from receiving the first signal. Alternatively, the presentdistance between the docking station and the mobile device is able to bedetermined by measuring a time duration of signal propagation betweenthose two devices. For example, transmitted data packets are able toinclude time stamps that indicate a time of transmission for the thatdata packet, and the propagation time is able to be determined bycomparing the time of transmission to a time of receipt of the datapacket by the receiving device, or to a time of receipt by theoriginating device of an acknowledgement of receipt of the data packet.In one example, a time stamp indicating a time of receipt of the datapacket by the receiver is able to be used for such a determination, suchas by being included in the acknowledgement.

The docking station wireless connection management process 2100 thendetermines, at 2106, if the mobile device is within a first range of thedocking station. In one example, determining if the mobile device iswithin a first range of the docking station is based upon the abovedetermined distance that is determined based on the characteristic ofthe initial wireless connectivity. As discussed above, the first rangeis a relatively short range that facilitates establishing andmaintaining a high speed wireless data connectivity that consumes areasonable amount of electrical power. As discussed above, the firstrange in one example is approximately 5 cm.

If it is determined that the mobile device is within the first distanceof the docking station, a docking station wireless connectivity througha docking station wireless connection is established, at 2108. In oneexample, a short range docking station connection is established basedon determining that the mobile device is within the first range of thedocking station. A short range docking station connection in one exampleis able to be a high speed data communications path. In another example,the short range docking station connection is able to be a low powerdata communications path, such as a Bluetooth channel

After establishing the docking station wireless connection, or if it isnot determined that the mobile device is not within the first distance,the docking station wireless connection management process 2100 againdetermines at 2110, if the mobile device is within the first distance.If this determination is true, the docking station wireless connectionmanagement process 2100 maintains, at 2112, the docking station wirelessconnection. In response to determining the mobile device is not within afirst range of the docking station the docking station wirelessconnection management process 2100 terminates, at 2114, the dockingstation wireless connection, which is able to be a short range dockingstation wireless connectivity.

The docking station wireless connection management process 2100continues by determining, at 2116, if the mobile device is within asecond range of the docking station such that the second range beingoutside of and farther from the docking station than the first range.Based on determining the mobile device is within the second range, along range docking station connection is established, at 2118. At leastone wired connectivity and wireless connectivity are modified, in oneexample, Based on determining that the mobile device is within thesecond range and outside the first range. The docking station wirelessconnection management process 2100 then returns to determining, at 2104,the distance between the mobile device and the docking station, as isdescribed above. In one example, the long range docking stationconnection is a Bluetooth connectivity that is established as theinitial wireless connectivity, and the communications protocols areadjusted to route a subset of docking station data across the Bluetoothconnection. In a further example, the long range docking stationconnection is a wireless data connectivity that conforms to a differentprotocol than the docking station wireless connection that isestablished under circumstances in which the mobile device is determinedto be within the first range.

The docking station wireless connection management process 2100described above allows an initial wireless connectivity, such as aBluetooth connectivity, that consumes relatively low levels ofelectrical power, to be used to determine if the two devices are closeenough to establish a docking station wireless connection, whichgenerally consumes more electrical power. Further, wireless charging islikely to be able to occur to provide the power consumed by the dockingstation wireless connection under circumstances in which the mobiledevice is within the first range.

The above described methods include several aspects. In an example, amethod performed by a station for charging and docking a mobile deviceincludes detecting presence of the mobile device, transferring wirelesspower to the mobile device; and, establishing connectivity with anexternal device on behalf of the mobile device. Also included aredetecting an absence of the mobile device, stopping the wireless powertransfer, and stopping the connectivity. A method performed by a stationfor charging and docking a mobile device can include detecting presenceof the mobile device, transferring wireless power to the mobile device,and executing onload or offload processing through wirelesscommunication with the mobile device. Also included are detectingabsence of the mobile device, stopping the wireless power transfer, andstopping the onload or offload processing. A method performed by astation for charging and docking a mobile device can include detectingpresence of the mobile device, receiving wireless power transferinformation for the mobile device, transferring wireless power to themobile device, receiving connectivity assignment information,establishing connectivity with an external device on behalf of themobile device based on the connectivity assignment information,receiving processing assignment information, and executing processing onbehalf of the mobile device based on the processing assignmentinformation. Optionally included are detecting absence of the mobiledevice, stopping the wireless power transfer to the mobile device,stopping connectivity on behalf of the mobile device, and stopping theprocessing on behalf of the mobile device. A method performed by astation for wirelessly docking a mobile device can include receivingmobile device identification information from the mobile device,receiving connectivity configuration information for the mobile device,storing connectivity configuration information for the identified mobiledevice, and establishing connectivity for the mobile device with anexternal device based at least partly upon the connectivityconfiguration information. A method performed by a station wirelesslydocking a mobile device can include receiving a request for display ofconnectivity information, receiving connectivity information, andgenerating a display of the connectivity information. Optionallyincluded are wherein the connectivity information indicates at least oneexternal device and specific connectivity supporting connectivity of themobile device to such external device, wherein the external devicecomprises at least one of a display, speakers, keyboard, mouse, server,media player, printer, scanner or copier, or wherein the specificconnectivity includes at least one wireless connectivity, also whereinthe specific connectivity includes at least one wired connectivity,wherein the connectivity status is displayed in association with theexternal device and specific connectivity. A method performed by astation wirelessly docking a mobile device can include receiving arequest to edit a connectivity configuration including connectivitysupported by the station on behalf of the mobile device, receiving inputto edit the connectivity configuration, modifying the connectivityconfiguration information based on the received input, storing themodified connectivity configuration information, and modifying theconnectivity of the station based on the modified connectivityconfiguration information. A method performed by a mobile devicewirelessly charging and docking with a station can include receivingwireless power from the station, transmitting a connectivityconfiguration to the station for establishing connectivity with at leastone external device on behalf of the mobile device, and establishingconnectivity with the at least one external device based at least partlyupon the connectivity configuration. Optionally included are wherein theconnectivity is wireless and the external device includes at least oneof a display, speakers, keyboard, or mouse. A method performed by amobile device wirelessly charging and docking with a station can includereceiving wireless power from the station, receiving a connectivityconfiguration from the station for establishing connectivity at of themobile device, and establishing connectivity with at least one externaldevice. Optionally included are wherein the connectivity is wireless andthe external device includes at least one of a display, speakers,keyboard, or mouse. A method performed by a mobile device wirelesslycharging and docking with a station can include receiving wireless powerfrom the station, and offloading processing to the station. A methodperformed by a mobile device wirelessly charging and docking with astation can include receiving wireless power from the station, andonloading processing from the station. A method performed by a mobiledevice wirelessly charging and docking with a station can includereceiving wireless power from the station, and transmitting wirelesspower transfer information to the station, transmitting a connectivityassignment to the station, and offloading processing to the station.

Further methods performed by a wireless station can include receivingidentification information from a mobile device, receiving a mobiledevice profile based on the identification information, transferringwireless power to the mobile device based on the mobile device profile,establishing connectivity based on the mobile device profile, andexecuting processing based on the mobile device profile. A methodperformed by a mobile device wirelessly docking to a station can includetransmitting identification information to the station, receivingprofile information based on the identification information from thestation, receiving wireless power from the station based on the profile,establishing connectivity based on the profile, and executing processingbased on the profile. A method performed by a station wirelessly dockingwith a mobile device can also include receiving credential informationfrom the mobile device, authenticating the credential information,accessing a profile based on the authenticating if successful,wirelessly configuring the mobile device based on the profile,wirelessly configuring the station based on the profile, transferringwireless power to the mobile device based on the profile, establishingconnectivity on behalf of the mobile device based on the profile, andexecuting processing on behalf of the mobile device based on theprofile. The method may optionally include receiving a request from themobile device to access an application, and providing the mobile devicewith access to the application; or receiving a request from the mobiledevice to access information, and providing the mobile device withaccess to the information.

A method performed by a mobile device wirelessly docking to a station isable to include receiving a credential input to the mobile device,wirelessly transmitting the credential to the station, accessing aprofile based on authentication of the credential, configuring themobile device based on the profile, and configuring the station based onthe profile. The method is also able to include receiving wireless powerfrom the station based on the profile, establishing connectivity basedon the profile, and executing processing based on the profile; receivinga request to access an application, and providing access to theapplication via the station; or receiving a request to accessinformation, and providing access to the information via the station.

A method performed by a station wirelessly docking a mobile device isable to include transferring wireless power to the mobile device,establishing connectivity on behalf of the mobile device, registeringthe mobile device to communicate on a communications network, receivinga request to connect, and establishing connectivity for the mobiledevice based on the registering. A method performed by a mobile devicewirelessly docking to a station is able to include receiving wirelesspower from the station, establishing connectivity with at least thestation, registering the mobile device on a communications network viathe station, receiving or transmitting a request to connect, andestablishing connectivity via the station based on the registering. Amethod performed by a station in wirelessly docking a mobile device caninclude detecting presence of a mobile device within a first range ofthe station, transferring wireless power to the mobile device inresponse to detecting the mobile device within the first range,establishing first connectivity with the mobile device, detectingpresence of the mobile device within a second range outside of the firstrange, stopping wireless power transfer to the mobile device in responseto detecting the mobile device within the second range, stopping thefirst connectivity, and establishing second connectivity with the mobiledevice. The method is also able to include detecting absence of themobile device, and stopping the second connectivity In response todetecting the absence of the mobile device. In the method, the firstconnectivity is able to be NFC and the second connectivity is able to beBluetooth, WiFi or WiGig.

A method performed by a mobile device wirelessly docking to a station isable to include detecting presence of a station within a first range ofthe mobile device, receiving wireless power from the station in responseto detecting the presence of the station within the first range,establishing first connectivity with the station, detecting presence ofthe station within a second range outside of the first range, stoppingwireless power reception in response to detecting the presence of thestation within the second range, stopping the first connectivity, andestablishing second connectivity with the station. The method is alsoable to include detecting absence of the station, and stopping thesecond connectivity with the station in response to detecting theabsence of the station. A method performed by a station wirelesslydocking a mobile device is able to include detecting presence of amobile device, wirelessly transferring power to the mobile device,establishing connectivity on behalf of the mobile device, and syncinginformation stored on the mobile device with information stored on thestation or other external device in communication with the station. Amethod performed by a mobile device wirelessly docking to a station caninclude detecting presence of the station, receiving wireless power fromthe station, establishing connectivity with the station, syncinginformation stored on the mobile device with information stored on thestation or other external device in communication with the station. Amethod performed by a station wirelessly docking a mobile device caninclude detecting presence of the mobile device, receiving aconnectivity assignment from the mobile device, establishingconnectivity based on the connectivity assignment, receiving aprocessing assignment from the mobile device, and executing processingbased on the processing assignment. The method is also able to includedetecting absence of the mobile device, stopping connectivity with themobile device in response to detecting the absence of the mobile device,and stopping processing on behalf of the mobile device.

A method performed by a mobile device docking to a station is able toinclude detecting presence of the station, wirelessly transmittingconnectivity assignment information in response to detecting presence ofthe station, establishing wireless connectivity with the station,wirelessly transmitting processing assignment information, and executingprocessing assigned to the mobile device. The method is also able toinclude detecting absence of the station, stopping wireless connectivityin response to detecting absence of the station, and stopping theprocessing.

A station for wirelessly docking and charging a mobile device caninclude a processor, a memory configured to store code and data, andconnected to the processor, a charging component connected to theprocessor, a wireless communication component connected to theprocessor, and a connectivity unit connected to the processor, such thatthe processor and memory are configured to perform part or all of theabove described methods. The station is optionally able to include adisplay connected to the processor such that the processor and thememory are configured to display the connectivity configuration of thestation and mobile device. The station is optionally able to include aninput device connected to the processor, and the processor and memoryare configured to receive input from the input device to modify theconnectivity configuration. The station is optionally able to havememory configured to store data including a plurality of profiles forrespective mobile devices such that where the profiles include wirelesspower transfer information, connectivity assignments and processingassignment information. Optionally, the processor and memory areconfigured to separately encrypt the profiles. The connectivity unitsare able to include a wireless radio unit, a wired connector, or both.

A mobile station configured for wirelessly docking and charging with astation can include a processor, a memory configured to store code anddata, and connected to the processor, a wireless power receptioncomponent connected to the processor, a wireless communication componentconnected to the processor, and a connectivity unit connected to theprocessor such that the processor and memory are configured to receivewireless power from the station via the wireless power receptioncomponent, and the processor and memory are configured to transfer aconnectivity assignment to the station via the wireless communicationcomponent and the connectivity unit. The processor and memory are ableto be configured to offload processing to the station, or onloadprocessing from the station. The mobile station is able to include adisplay connected to the processor, such that the processor and thememory are configured to display the connectivity configuration of thestation and mobile device. The mobile station is able to include aninput device connected to the processor, such that the processor andmemory are configured to receive input from the input device to modifythe connectivity configuration. The mobile device is also able to havememory that is configured to store data including a profile for themobile device, and the profile includes wireless power transferinformation, connectivity information and processing assignmentinformation. The mobile station can include a wireless radio unit, awired connector, or both.

Information Processing System

The present subject matter can be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. A system can be realized in acentralized fashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashionsuch that different external devices are spread across severalinterconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system—or otherapparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein—issuitable. A typical combination of hardware and software could be ageneral purpose computer system with a computer program that, when beingloaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carriesout the methods described herein.

The present subject matter can also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which—when loaded in a computersystem—is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in thepresent context means any expression, in any language, code or notation,of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after either or both of the following a) conversionto another language, code or, notation; and b) reproduction in adifferent material form.

Each computer system may include, inter alia, one or more computers andat least a computer readable medium allowing a computer to read data,instructions, messages or message packets, and other computer readableinformation from the computer readable medium. The computer readablemedium may include computer readable storage medium embodyingnon-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, diskdrive memory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage. Additionally, acomputer medium may include volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cachememory, and network circuits.

NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES

Although specific embodiments of the subject matter have been disclosed,those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes canbe made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spiritand scope of the disclosed subject matter. The scope of the disclosureis not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and itis intended that the appended claims cover any and all suchapplications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

One or more embodiments may realize one or more benefits, some of which(such as improved efficiency) have been mentioned already. One or moreembodiments may be adapted for use with a number of wirelessly powereddevices. Some embodiments may be implemented in relatively small space,making them useful for wirelessly powering handheld devices ortransferring power to wirelessly powered devices on the limited space ofa table or desk.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: establishing a wirelessconnection between a mobile device and a docking station to supportwireless communication, the docking station being in communications withat least one external device, each of the at least one external deviceconfigured to selectably communicate with the mobile device through aconnectivity through the docking station and through a directconnectivity with the mobile device; receiving a connectivity assignmentby the docking station, the connectivity assignment comprising aspecification of: at least one specified external device, and arespective connectivity for each of the at least one specified externaldevice, the respective connectivity specifying either of oneconnectivity selected from: a connectivity through the docking station,and a direct connectivity between the mobile device and the specifiedexternal device; establishing the respective connectivity between themobile device and specified external devices based on the connectivityassignment; and generating a display indicating a connectivityconfiguration, the connectivity configuration comprising: an indicationof each of the at least one specified external device; and an indicationof the respective connectivity for each of the at least one specifiedexternal device, the indication of the respective connectivity able toindicate either a connectivity through the docking station or a directconnectivity.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connectivityassignment is received from one of the mobile device or at least oneexternal device.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtransmitting an additional connectivity assignment from the dockingstation to the mobile device, the additional connectivity assignmentspecifying additional wireless connectivity between the mobile deviceand the one or more external devices.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinthe transmitting the additional connectivity assignment is based on auser input.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicates theone or more external devices connected to the docking station and themobile device.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicates arespective connectivity type for each respective connectivity.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the display indicates a respective signalstrength for each respective connectivity.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the display indicates a connection status of each respectiveconnectivity.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving,based on an input received in association with the display, anindication to change the connectivity for a selected external device;and modifying the connectivity between the mobile device and theselected external device based on the indication of the change inconnection status.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dockingstation receives the indication of a change to the connection status viathe one or more external devices.
 11. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising determining that the mobile device is within a second rangeof the docking station and outside of a first range of the dockingstation, the second range being outside of and farther from the dockingstation than the first range, and wherein establishing the wirelessconnection comprises establishing, based on determining the mobiledevice is within the second range and outside of the first range, a longrange docking station connection.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: modifying based on determining the mobile device is withinthe second range and outside of the first range, the each respectiveconnectivity.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing aplurality of profiles, each profile in the plurality of profilescorresponding to a respective mobile device, each profile in theplurality of profiles comprising the connectivity assignment, andprocessing assignment information for the respective mobile device. 14.The method of claim 13, further comprising separately encrypting eachprofile in the plurality of profiles.
 15. A docking station comprising:a processor; a memory, coupled to the processor, configured to storecode and data; a communication component, coupled to the processor,configured to establish wireless communications to a mobile device andcommunications with at least one external device, each of the at leastone external device configured to selectably communicate with the mobiledevice through a connectivity through the docking station and through adirect connectivity with the mobile device; a connectivity unit, coupledto the processor, configured to manage communications, through thecommunications component, between the mobile device and the at least oneexternal device based upon a connectivity assignment, the connectivityassignment comprising a specification of: at least one specifiedexternal device, and a respective connectivity for each of the at leastone specified external device, the respective connectivity specifyingeither of one connectivity selected from: a connectivity through thedocking station, and a direct connectivity between the mobile device andthe specified external device; and a display unit coupled to theprocessor, the processor and memory configured to: receive theconnectivity assignment; provide the connectivity assignment to theconnectivity unit; configure, based on the connectivity assignment, theconnectivity unit to establish the respective connectivity between themobile device and specified external devices; generate a displayindicating a connectivity configuration, the connectivity configurationcomprising: an indication of each of the at least one specified externaldevice; and an indication of the respective connectivity for each of theat least one specified external device, the indication of the respectiveconnectivity able to indicate either a connectivity through the dockingstation or a direct connectivity; and provide the display on thedisplay.
 16. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the processor andmemory are further configured to: receive, based on an input received inassociation with the display, an indication to change the connectivityfor a selected external device, and modify the connectivity between themobile device and the selected external device based on the change inconnection status.
 17. The docking station of claim 15, furthercomprising a proximity detector configured to detect an absence of themobile device from within a second range of the docking station, andwherein the processor and memory are configured to: receive, from theproximity detector, an indication of the absence; and modify the one ormore wired or wireless connections based on the detecting of the absenceof the mobile device within the second range.
 18. The docking station ofclaim 15, wherein the processor and memory are configured to store aplurality of profiles, each profile in the plurality of profilescorresponding to a respective mobile device, each profile in theplurality of profiles comprising the connectivity assignment, andprocessing assignment information for the respective mobile device. 19.The docking station of claim 15, wherein the display indicates at leastone of: The at least one external device connected to the dockingstation and the mobile device; a respective connectivity type for eachrespective connectivity; a respective signal strength for eachrespective connectivity; and a connection status of each respectiveconnectivity.
 20. A computer readable storage medium having computerreadable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable programcode comprising instructions for: establishing a wireless connectionbetween a mobile device and a docking station to support wirelesscommunication, the docking station being in communications with at leastone external device, each of the at least one external device configuredto selectably communicate with the mobile device through a connectivitythrough the docking station and through a direct connectivity with themobile device; receiving a connectivity assignment by the dockingstation, the connectivity assignment comprising a specification of: atleast one specified external device, and a respective connectivity foreach of the at least one specified external device, the respectiveconnectivity specifying either of one connectivity selected from: aconnectivity through the docking station, and a direct connectivitybetween the mobile device and the specified external device;establishing the respective connectivity between the mobile device andspecified external devices based on the connectivity assignment; andgenerating a display indicating a connectivity configuration, theconnectivity configuration comprising: an indication of each of the atleast one specified external device; and an indication of the respectiveconnectivity for each of the at least one specified external device, theindication of the respective connectivity indicating either aconnectivity through the docking station or a direct connectivity.